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

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

» 9 comments

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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JunkJunk

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

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

I heard one of the networks claim during the ordeal they were on a 10 second delay just in case
http://www.facebook.com/people/Shomari-Hines/1664268173 Shomari Hines

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

If this was a hoax, then that dad is going to jail.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Shomari-Hines/1664268173 Shomari Hines

Cops are saying they are sure he was in the balloon. This means the poor kid fell out. WOW!!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Patrick-Plante/1014095624 Patrick Plante

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.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Janie-Borne/1627035161 Janie Borne

“This was wrong”… jump to “Updated Version”: “This is STILL WRONG….Who writes this stuff… 12 yr olds?!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Janie-Borne/1627035161 Janie Borne

Still love the site guys.