What Happens if a Hot Air Balloon Gets a Hole?

While taking a hot air balloon ride is exhilarating and liberating, you can’t help but have doubts and worries, especially if it's your first time. It's only natural to wonder what would happen if a hot air balloon gets a hole.

Note that hot air balloons already contain holes. For instance, there’s an opening at the bottom of the balloon to allow the burners to send heat through it.

There’s also another opening at the top of the balloon so that hot air escapes, letting the balloon descend. Thus, small holes won’t significantly affect the balloon’s performance. However, large holes and leaks can lead to sudden falls.

Luckily, your hot air balloon pilot is able to treat this hole using the blast valve to allow more hot air to circulate. Compared to a normal landing, they’d do it a bit more often, making sure you’ll land in a safe place.

Can a Bird Pop a Hot Air Balloon?

A bird striking a hot air balloon rarely causes any damage. There is a small impact, but the fabric is durable and elastic enough to sustain it.

In rare cases, birds can cause a hole in a balloon when they strike it. However, this would be a very small hole, not large enough to take down the entire balloon.