Three British Tourists Killed In Hot Air Balloon Crash In Luxor, Egypt (VIDEO, PICTURES)

WATCH: 'I cannot believe this has happened again. They promised to tighten safety procedures'
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WARNING: this video contains footage of the balloon crash that some viewers may find distressing

Three Britons are among 19 tourists who were killed following a horror balloon crash in Egypt - thought to be the biggest of its kind in history.

The Foreign Office confirmed that two British nationals and one British resident died when the balloon plunged to the ground in flames.

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The scene of the balloon crash

Witnesses told how the balloon exploded into flames before crashing into sugar cane fields as it travelled over the Valley of the Kings near Luxor.

Two of those caught up in the tragedy have been named by neighbours as Michael Rennie, 49, and wife Yvonne, from Perth, Scotland. A spokeswoman at Luxor International Hospital said on Tuesday evening that Michael Rennie was in a stable condition. Other reports later said that Mrs Rennie had died in the tragedy.

Next-door neighbour Linda Kettles said: "They were very, very nice people who kept themselves to themselves.

"They've gone on holiday to enjoy themselves. They only get the weekends together and any break together is good for them.

"They were really looking forward to getting away.

"I'm totally devastated by the news. I really feel for their families."

The couple moved from Dundee to Perth about 10 years ago and although they have been together for a "long time" they were only married recently, Ms Kettles said.

Mrs Rennie worked as a hospital receptionist and Mr Rennie worked in the construction industry, she said.

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Linda Kettles puts flowers on the doorstep of her next door neighbours Michael and Yvonne Rennie

Although the identity of the two other Britons to have died have it been formally released, the Telegraph was reporting them as Joe Bampton, 40, and his 34 year-old Hungarian-born partner, Suzanna Gyetvai.

Former policewoman Linda Lea, 67, from Stoke-on-Trent, still suffers from the multiple injuries she sustained in a similar crash in Luxor in 2009.

The balloon was believed to have hit a mobile phone transmission tower near the banks of the Nile, injuring 16.

She said: "I cannot believe this has happened again. They promised to tighten safety procedures after my crash. Flights were stopped for a time.

"These balloons are just too unstable. There is not enough training of staff. There were about 22 or 23 in my balloon when it crashed and maybe there were too many then and too many in today's accident."

Following the 2009 crash, early morning hot air balloon flights over the Valley of the Kings on the West Bank of the Nile were suspended for six months while safety measures were tightened up.

During the break, all 42 pilots from the eight companies who operate flights had extra training.

Other initiatives to improve safety brought in included confining all take-offs to a new balloon "airport" and limiting the maximum number of balloons up at the same time to eight. Previously as many as 50 could share the air space.

Harrowing pictures emerged of the wreckage earlier on Tuesday, which showed the dead in body bags and charred helicopter remains in nearby fields.

The four Britons were on holiday in Luxor with tour operator Thomas Cook.

Mr Rennie and the Egyptian pilot, who is also in hospital, are the only survivors of the crash.

Thomas Cook initially announced that two Britons had survived the crash but later revealed that one of the two, believed to have suffered 70% burns, had since died.

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Pictures of the crash taken by tourist Christopher Michel

The survivor was flown to hospital in Cairo more than 300 miles away. The four Britons were believed to have been among nine people who had jumped from the balloon.

The other tourists, including holidaymakers from France, Hong Kong and Japan, were all thought to have died in the explosion. Authorities in Luxor, where there have been previous balloon crashes, have suspended all balloon flights and an investigation is under way.

Thomas Cook UK and Europe chief executive Peter Fankhauser said: "What happened in Luxor this morning is a terrible tragedy and the thoughts of everyone in Thomas Cook are with our guests, their family and friends."

He said the company had a very experienced team in Luxor and that full support was being provided to the family and friends of those who had died.

Thomas Cook said it was working with local officials and a full investigation would be taking taking place. The company is asking concerned relatives who have guests in the resort to contact 0800 107 5638.

Later, the Foreign Office (FO) said the next of kin of the three British dead - two British nationals and one British resident - had been informed and were being provided with consular assistance.

The FO added that the British survivor was in a stable condition and that the UK Ambassador to Egypt "has met the injured British national and has offered our assistance".

Cherry Tohamy, an Egyptian living in Kuwait who was on holiday in Luxor, was in another balloon which was landing when she heard an explosion and saw flames from a balloon above.

She told the BBC: "Our pilot told us that the balloon had hit a high pressure electrical cable and a cylinder on board exploded.

"People were jumping out of the balloon from about the height of a seven-storey building."

She said ambulances were at the scene within 15 minutes.

Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion before seeing plumes of smoke as the balloon caught fire.

Christopher Michel described the carnage on Twitter, where he posted a series of photographs showing the balloons ahead of the flight.

He said: "It was the balloon behind mine. I heard a loud explosion and saw smoke."

Mr Michel, who previously made a balloon excursion with an English pilot, said the Egyptian operation "didn't feel quite as professional" as that of his first voyage.

The US photographer was taking aerial photographs at the time of the crash.

He told the BBC: "We flew over the ancient ruins. Just before landing in the cornfields, I heard an explosion and saw smoke. I think it was the balloon behind mine.

"I wasn't sure what had happened at first. It was only when we landed we heard the full extent of what happened."

He added: "It's really, really tragic and everyone involved is in a lot of shock."

Hamdy Shabaan, operations manager at another operator, Sinbad hot air balloons, said the basket was on fire when it fell to the ground.

Hot air balloon trips usually take place at sunrise over the Karnak and Luxor temples as well as the Valley of the Kings.

Thomas Cook has around 150 clients in the Luxor area at present. The company was not giving out any information about just when the four Britons involved had started their holidays or what their package involved.

Konny Matthews, assistant manager of a Luxor's Al Moudira hotel, said she heard a boom around 7am local time.

She went on: "It was a huge bang. It was a frightening bang, even though it was several kilometres away from the hotel. Some of my employees said that their homes were shaking."

GRAPHIC WARNING: Hot Air Balloon Crash in Egypt
Hot Air Balloon Crash in Egypt(01 of32)
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Hot Air Balloon Crash in Egyptpictures by @chrismichel
Hot Air Balloon Crash in Egypt pictures by @chrismichel(02 of32)
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Hot Air Balloon Crash in Egyptpictures by @chrismichel
Hot Air Balloon Crash in Egypt pictures by @chrismichel(03 of32)
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Hot Air Balloon Crash in Egyptpictures by @chrismichel
Hot Air Balloon Crash in Egypt pictures by @chrismichel(04 of32)
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Hot Air Balloon Crash in Egyptpictures by @chrismichel
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In this image made available by Christopher Michel, the launch site near Luxor in Egypt, shortly prior to a hot air balloon explosion which killed at least 18 tourists including a number of tourists Tuesday Feb. 26, 2013. Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion before seeing plumes of smoke as the balloon caught fire and plunged into a sugar cane field west of Luxor, which is 320 miles (510km) south of the capital Cairo. The casualties are believed to include British and French tourists, as well as other nationalities, a security official in the country said. (AP Photo/Christopher Michel) (credit:AP)
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In this image made available by Christopher Michel, the launch site near Luxor in Egypt, shortly prior to a hot air balloon explosion which killed at least 18 tourists including a number of tourists Tuesday Feb. 26, 2013. Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion before seeing plumes of smoke as the balloon caught fire and plunged into a sugar cane field west of Luxor, which is 320 miles (510km) south of the capital Cairo. The casualties are believed to include British and French tourists, as well as other nationalities, a security official in the country said. (AP Photo/Christopher Michel) (credit:AP)
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Egyptians gather near the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor, 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists, a security official said. (AP Photo/Hagag Salama) (credit:AP)
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Rescue workers inspect the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor, 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists, a security official said. (AP Photo/Hagag Salama) (credit:AP)
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A victim of a ballon accident is seen in a body bag lying on a dirt road near the scene of a crash outside al-Dhabaa village just west of the city of Luxor, 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists, a security official said. (AP Photo/Hagag Salama) (credit:AP)
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An Egyptian rescue worker collects remains near the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor, 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists, a security official said. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Zayed) (credit:AP)
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An Egyptian rescue worker collects remains near the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor, 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists, a security official said. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Zayed) (credit:AP)
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Egyptian paramedics evacuate the body of a slain foreign tourist to be transferred to Cairo, at the morgue of the Luxor International Hospital, in Luxor, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists in one of the world's deadliest ballooning accidents and handing a new blow to Egypt's ailing tourism industry. Arabic on the wall reads, "we will all return to God, there is no God but God, and Muhammed is his prophet." (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (credit:AP)
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An Egyptian security worker guards the morgue during the evacuation of the slain foreign tourists, to be transferred to Cairo, unseen, at the Luxor International Hospital, in Luxor, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists in one of the world's deadliest ballooning accidents and handing a new blow to Egypt's ailing tourism industry. Arabic on the placard reads "the morgue." (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (credit:AP)
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An Egyptian paramedic evacuates the body of a slain foreign tourist to be transferred to Cairo, at the morgue of the Luxor International Hospital, in Luxor, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists in one of the world's deadliest ballooning accidents and handing a new blow to Egypt's ailing tourism industry. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (credit:AP)
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Egyptians gather at the site of a balloon crash where the remains of the burned gondola are seen, outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor, 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 18 foreign tourists, a security official said. The casualties included French, British, Belgian, Hungarian, Japanese nationals and nine tourists from Hong Kong, Luxor Governor, Saad told reporters. (AP Photo/Hagag Salama) (credit:AP)
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Rescue workers and civilians search for bodies at the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor, 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 18 foreign tourists, a security official said. The casualties included French, British, Belgian, Hungarian, Japanese nationals and nine tourists from Hong Kong, Luxor Governor, Saad told reporters. (AP Photo/Hagag Salama) (credit:AP)
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Luxor Governor Ezzat Saad, center, speaks to reporters in al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor, 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 18 foreign tourists, a security official said. The casualties included French, British, Belgian, Hungarian, Japanese nationals and nine tourists from Hong Kong, Luxor Governor, Saad told reporters. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Zayed) (credit:AP)
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Rescue workers prepare to remove a body from the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor, 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 18 foreign tourists, a security official said. The casualties included French, British, Belgian, Hungarian, Japanese nationals and nine tourists from Hong Kong, Luxor Governor, Saad told reporters. (AP Photo/Hagag Salama) (credit:AP)
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Map locates Luxor, Egypt, where a hot air balloon crash killed foreign tourists (credit:AP)
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In this combo made from images from amateur video provided by Al-Jazeera, smoke pours from a hot air balloon over Luxor, Egypt, top left, before bursting, top right, and plummeting about 1,000 feet to earth, bottom left and right, on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Nineteen people were killed in what appeared to be the deadliest hot air ballooning accident on record. A British tourist and the Egyptian pilot, who was badly burned, were the sole survivors. (AP Photo/Al-Jazeera) MANDATORY CREDIT: AL-JAZEERA (credit:AP)
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Kathleen Lumsden speaks to the media on her doorstep about nextdoor neighbours Michael Rennie, 49, and wife Yvonne, from Perth, who were caught up in the Egyptian balloon tragedy. It is not yet clear if they are among the 19 fatalities. (credit:PA)
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Kathleen Lumsden speaks to the media on her doorstep about nextdoor neighbours Michael Rennie, 49, and wife Yvonne, from Perth, who were caught up in the Egyptian balloon tragedy. It is not yet clear if they are among the 19 fatalities. (credit:PA)
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Linda Kettles with daughter in law Louise and her daughter Abigail puts flowers on the doorstep of their nextdoor neighbours Michael Rennie, 49, and wife Yvonne, from Perth, who were caught up in the Egyptian balloon tragedy. It is not yet clear if they are among the 19 fatalities. (credit:PA)
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Flowers are laid on the doorstep of Michael Rennie, 49, and wife Yvonne, from Perth, who were caught up in the Egyptian balloon tragedy. It is not yet clear if they are among the 19 fatalities. (credit:PA)
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Linda Kettles speaks to the media on her doorstep in Perth about nextdoor neighbours Michael Rennie, 49, and wife Yvonne, from Perth, who were caught up in the Egyptian balloon tragedy. It is not yet clear if they are among the 19 fatalities. (credit:PA)
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Linda Kettles speaks to the media on her doorstep in Perth about nextdoor neighbours Michael Rennie, 49, and wife Yvonne, from Perth, who were caught up in the Egyptian balloon tragedy. It is not yet clear if they are among the 19 fatalities. (credit:PA)
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Journalists work at the site of the balloon accident, in Luxor, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists in one of the world's deadliest ballooning accidents and handing a new blow to Egypt's ailing tourism industry. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (credit:AP)
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Pictured is the home of Michael Rennie, 49, and wife Yvonne, from Perth, who were caught up in the Egyptian balloon tragedy. It is not yet clear if they are among the 19 fatalities. (credit:PA)
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An Egyptian field guard looks at two inspectors of the Civil Aviation Authority working at the site of the balloon accident, in Luxor, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists in one of the world's deadliest ballooning accidents and handing a new blow to Egypt's ailing tourism industry. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (credit:AP)
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An Egyptian policeman stands guard at the site of the balloon accident, in Luxor, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists in one of the world's deadliest ballooning accidents and handing a new blow to Egypt's ailing tourism industry. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (credit:AP)
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Two Egyptian inspectors of the Civil Aviation Authority work at the site of the balloon accident, in Luxor, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists in one of the world's deadliest ballooning accidents and handing a new blow to Egypt's ailing tourism industry. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (credit:AP)
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An Egyptian inspector of the Civil Aviation Authority, left, works at the site of the balloon accident, in Luxor, Egypt, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. A hot air balloon flying over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire and crashed into a sugar cane field on Tuesday, killing at least 19 foreign tourists in one of the world's deadliest ballooning accidents and handing a new blow to Egypt's ailing tourism industry. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (credit:AP)