Two new world records were created during the Lorraine Mondial international hot air balloon festival at the Chambley-Bussieres Aerodrome in eastern France when 408 hot air balloons filled the sky at one time and 391 of them for takeoff in a line.
Philippe Buron Pilatre, the founder of the festival, which was attended by more than 350,000 people, lamented unpredictable weather conditions and said that less than half of the 19 mass flights planned over the 10 days of the festival, could be held, News.com.au reported.
He also complained about the bad behaviour by some of the participants, especially when 20 pilots deliberately landed their balloons on cropland instead of on roads and lanes, making local farmers furious.
A total of 1207 pilots, nearly 2000 crew and 983 hot-air balloons took part in the festival.