ELOY, Ariz. — What was supposed to be a thrilling experience ended in tragedy on Sunday, when a hot air balloon crashed killing four people including the pilot.
The crash happened around 7:45 a.m. in a desert area of Sunshine Boulevard and Hanna Road in Eloy, about 65 miles southwest of Phoenix.
On Monday, the Eloy Police Department identified the killed passengers as Chayton Wiescholek, 28, from Michigan; Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, from Indiana; Atahan Kiliccote, 24, from California; and the pilot Cornelius Van Der Walt, 37, originally from South Africa, who lived in Eloy.
"He was in the balloon just supporting [his girlfriend] because he wanted to be with her and do the stuff she wanted to do," Chayton Wiescholek's mother, Rhonda Wiescholek told 12News. "His girlfriend was one of the skydivers."
Wiescholek said it was her son's girlfriend who called her and told her about the crash, minutes after it happened.
"She just said that his balloon went down and crashed, and I needed to get down here," Rhonda Wiescholek said. "That's where I stopped her. I hung up and was finding a way to get to Arizona."
The mother said her son loved the outdoors, camping, and trying new things. He was a mechanic at a dry-ice manufacturer in Albion, Michigan. But he also enjoyed DJ'ing at weddings, dances, and schools part-time.
"He was just on vacation for a few days, they wanted to come out and just enjoy the weather," Rhonda Wiescholek said.
Among the victims was Kaitlynn Bartrom. Family told 12News the 28-year-old loved adventure and had recently become a registered nurse.
Atahan Kiliccote of California also died in the crash. He was a graduate engineer working in Chicago.
Authorities identified the pilot of the balloon as Cornelius Van Der Walt. He is the owner of Droplyne, the company behind the ride that turned deadly.
The company was formed in 2017 and operates daily rides in Eloy-- during the winter months-- and in Moab, Utah-- in the summer, according to the company's website.
Social media videos show skydivers jumping out of the basket in mid-air at the same time on multiple occasions and a sole operator landing the balloon at times.
Balloon experts have told 12News that skydiving is recommended to occur from hot air balloons only when one skydiver jumps at a time.
On the day of the crash, the balloon had 13 passengers. The eight skydivers landed safely, while four passengers died and one remains in the hospital fighting for their life.
The hospitalized patient was identified as Valerie Stutterheim, 23, from Scottsdale.
Rhonda Wischolek said she can't wrap her brain around the idea that her son is gone, "You just don't. It's just a broken piece, it's gone."
Chayton Wischolek was the oldest of two brothers. His mother traveled to Arizona and hopes to return home with his remains.
"Those were the only two sons I had," the mother said. "Now, I have one. But I do know that he was very happy with what he was doing and whom he was with."
The Wischolek family has created a GoFundMe to help with funeral and travel expenses. Anyone interested in donating can do so here.
The Bartrom family also created an online fundraiser to help pay for memorial expenses. Anyone interested in donating can do so here.
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