237UAP00010

SKYWATCH INCIDENT REPORT

PRIMARY CODE: OTHER Date: 04:00 10/16/2009 Paged: NO Status: Closed POD: DEN Reporting Facility: ZDV

REMARKS

1730: Father called ZDV directly to inform ATC that his six year old son had gone airborne in a helium filled balloon that he had made to resemble a UFO, which was previously anchored at the family's home. 1845: ZDV called to advise DEN of situation. 1855: D.E.N. requested D01 and COS come up on the DEN. Local LEOs aware of the situation. D01 is working chase plane which will relay periodic updates. 1857: Balloon 18N of DEN @ 12,000-13000ft.The balloon was airborne for approximately 30-miles and reached a height of nearly 13,000ft. A TV helo tracked the balloon for almost the entirety of its flight. Two ANG helos joined in on trail at around the 15-mile point of the flight. The balloon descended slowly during the last 10-15-miles of its flight. The balloon landed softly in a clearing on the DEN26@/on 4-miles As of 2O24Z there still hasn't been any sign of the missing child. The DEN/SOSC have accumulated the data (ADAPT track data history and print outs, along with potential local radar records/FRs for SAR missions.) TSO will have the moment that local LEOs where the child is located. 2I2I: As soon TV pictures showed a basket on the balloon they queried ZDV to see where TV helo first engaged the Balloon. The determination was that helo first filmed the balloon within I- I-5-miles of the launch site (child's home). ZDV has forwarded the information to proper authorities for possible SAR None of our resources have ability to depict altitude data due to ACFT being without an operating transponder or mode-c readout FYSA It has been noted that family boy who was reported by his father to be aboard balloon has in past been part Reality TV show.…

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