This Was Still Wrong: Boy Found Alive Didn’t Change The Risks – UPDATE

by Colby Hall | 3:54 pm, October 15th, 2009

balloon_kid Cable channels covered the soft landing of the balloon contraption that had earlier been reported to be carrying six year-old Falcon Henne. The balloon was empty at landing, but there is growing concern that the child may have fallen out mid-flight.

Not only did cable news programmers make a risky decision in covering this story live, they may have inadvertently aired his death.

Police say that the homemade dome-shaped, 20 foot, 5 foot aircraft (covered with foil) was tethered with a rope while the family constructed it. Some time this morning, it was reported that the family’s six-year-old son entered the craft and released the rope.

After the makeshift aircraft landed, it was discovered that no one was on board. Sadly, the child has not yet been found, and there is growing concern that he may have fallen out of the balloon early in the flight.

Update – The boy was found! Alive and in a box in their attic.

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anderson cooper, Balloon Boy Hoax, Balloon Boy Lives, CNN, Hot Air, Hot Air Balloon Coverage, Hot Air Balloon Hoax, Larry King Live, Wolf Blitzer, Wolf Blitzer Blows It, Wolf Blitzer Interviews Balloon Boy, “balloon boy”

9 comments

JunkJunk says:

October 15, 2009 at 3:55 pm

Colby,

I know that CNN was on a tape delay. I’m not sure about any of the other networks. But your concern is valid.

LVK says:

October 15, 2009 at 4:05 pm

AMEN! What were they going to do if he had been hurt, even if they were on the time delay?

RazorsEdge says:

October 15, 2009 at 4:07 pm

I heard one of the networks claim during the ordeal they were on a 10 second delay just in case

Facebook User says:

October 15, 2009 at 4:07 pm

Risky indeed. Lucky for them this thing didn’t end badly on live TV. Twitter is a buzz that they think it was all a hoax for the dad to get some free press for his UFO. Just saying. Ok so where is this kid?

JunkJunk says:

October 15, 2009 at 4:23 pm

If this was a hoax, then that dad is going to jail.

Facebook User says:

October 15, 2009 at 4:26 pm

Cops are saying they are sure he was in the balloon. This means the poor kid fell out. WOW!!

Patrick Plante says:

October 15, 2009 at 4:29 pm

I for one was not overly concerned about this. The networks were on delay at the moment of impact, which means if something did happen the producer would have switched to a live shot of the newsroom before the delayed carnage would have been seen. It’s standard practice for chase coverage, and the producers are big boys and girls.

Janie Borne says:

October 16, 2009 at 4:01 am

“This was wrong”… jump to “Updated Version”: “This is STILL WRONG….Who writes this stuff… 12 yr olds?!

Janie Borne says:

October 16, 2009 at 4:04 am

Still love the site guys.

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