Danger! Pilots Report Rogue Hot-Air Balloons Rising to 28,000 Feet
Jakarta — AirNav Indonesia has revealed that pilots continue to report sightings of rogue hot-air balloons reaching dangerously high altitudes in recent years. Several balloons have been reported flying as high as tens of thousands of feet, potentially compromising aviation safety.
Setio Anggoro, Director of Operations at AirNav Indonesia, stated that the organisation receives regular reports from pilots regarding hot-air balloons in flight corridors, with some reports indicating balloons at extremely high altitudes.
“Some reports mention balloons reaching altitudes above 28,000 feet. This is certainly dangerous because at that altitude, we are in the flight corridors of commercial aircraft,” Anggoro said.
Uncontrolled hot-air balloons pose significant risks to aviation safety, particularly given the substantial size of many balloons released by the public.
“Looking at content circulating online, these balloons are not small—they are quite large. When released into the air without control, they present a very high risk to aviation,” he explained.
Reports originate from pilots who directly observe balloon objects in the air, which are then relayed to air traffic controllers (ATC) for follow-up action.
“Pilot reports are typically communicated to ATC, which then forwards them to relevant units for coordination with stakeholders such as airports, police, and local government,” Anggoro clarified.
AirNav has noted that pilot reports concerning hot-air balloons have actually increased in recent periods, a development taken seriously due to potential threats to national aviation safety.
“From 2024 to 2025, there has been an increase in pilot reports of hot-air balloons. Of course, further analysis is needed to determine whether balloons are at aircraft altitude or still below,” Anggoro stated.
He emphasised that AirNav cannot address the problem of rogue balloons independently. Collaboration with local governments, law enforcement agencies, and the community is essential.
“We continue conducting aviation safety campaigns with stakeholders, including local governments, the Ministry of Transport, and law enforcement,” he said.
Should an accident occur due to balloon interference, the consequences would extend beyond those directly affected to damage Indonesia’s aviation reputation internationally.
“If such an accident were to occur, the disaster would affect not only those involved but could also damage Indonesia’s aviation image overall,” Anggoro stated.
Consequently, AirNav believes public education must be strengthened to allow hot-air balloon traditions to continue without jeopardising aviation safety.
“We hope that through collaboration among all parties, the public can understand that aviation safety must be a shared priority,” he concluded.