Page 1
PRIMARY CODE: OTHER
Date: 04:00 10/16/2009
Status: Closed
Paged: NO
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 the 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 DEN026@10.4-miles. As of 2024Z there still hasn't been any sign of the missing child. The DEN/SOSCs have accumulated the data (ADAPT track data history and print outs, along with potential locations requiring TFRs for SAR missions.) TSOC will advise the moment they hear from local LEOs when/if the child is located. 2121: As the TV pictures shown never depicted a basket on the balloon, we queried ZDV to check data to see where the TV helo first engaged the Balloon. The determination was that the helo first filmed the balloon within 1-1.5-miles of the launch site (child's home). ZDV has forwarded the information to the proper authorities for the possible SAR. None of our resources have the ability to depict altitude data due to the ACFT being without an operating transponder or mode-c readout. FYSA: It has been noted that the family of the boy who was reported by his father to be aboard the balloon has in the past been part of a Reality TV show. 2210: CNN reports the boy found at home, safe and was never aboard the balloon.