1 killed, 12 injured in S.Korea's hot air balloon crash

One person was killed and 12 others injured in a hot air balloon crash while landing early on Thursday, Yonhap news agency reported.

The aircraft, which took off at about 7:40am local time (2240 GMT Wednesday) from an area in the southern resort island of Jeju, crashed into a tree about 30 minutes later.

The pilot of the hot air balloon passed away after being rushed to a nearby hospital. The 12 tourists onboard the hot air balloon were injured but not in a life-threatening condition.

A witness, who was collecting wild plants near the scene, reported the accident to a local fire station. The crashed hot air balloon was operated by Oreum Hot Air Tour Co.

The firefighters and police were reportedly looking into the exact cause of the accident.