Hot air balloons over the ancient city of Luxor, Egypt (Photo:AFP)
Egypt's rescue forces saved a hot-air balloon that drifted west of the ancient city of Luxor due to strong winds earlier Thursday, a civil aviation ministry source said.
The balloon, which was carrying 11 passengers, landed safely in a mountainous region, the source said. No injuries were reported.
The source added that a plane sent by the Egyptian military's Research and Rescue Forces had been used to look for the balloon and identify its location.
Balloons in the ancient city are often grounded when weather conditions are bad.
Luxor, home to a myriad of ancient temples and historic sites, is a major tourist destination in Egypt, where tourism is a key earner of hard currency.
Tourists often take early morning balloon rides over the city to enjoy a panoramic view of its main attractions.
In January 2018, poor weather conditions caused a hot-air balloon to crash near Luxor, killing a South African tourist on board and injuring several others.
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