In a tragic incident, a hot air balloon crash in Eloy, Arizona, has resulted in the death of four individuals and left another critically injured. Authorities suspect that an issue with the balloon's envelope may have contributed to the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a statement indicating that no mechanical anomalies have been discovered thus far. They have examined the envelope separately from the passenger basket and found that everything appears to be intact. To further understand the incident, an electronic device containing flight information and a video camera have been sent to NTSB headquarters in Washington, D.C. The maintenance records of the balloon and information regarding the pilot's flight experience have also been collected.

Local Eloy police confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is assisting in the investigation. The FAA's expertise will be crucial in determining the cause of the crash.

Thirteen people were on board the Kubicek BB 85 Z hot air balloon when it took off. Eight of them were skydivers who had exited the gondola prior to the crash. The incident occurred around 7:45 a.m. on Sunday in Eloy, located approximately 65 miles southeast of Phoenix.

Eyewitnesses stated that moments before the crash, the balloon appeared deflated, with its material hanging straight down. The impact was described as hard and occurred in an empty field used as a drop zone for skydivers.

The victims have been identified as pilot Cornelius van der Walt, 37, of Eloy, and passengers Kaitlynn "Katie" Bartrom, 28, from Andrews, Indiana; Chayton Wiescholek, 28, from Union City, Michigan; and Atahan Kiliccote, 24, from Cupertino, California. Tragically, all four individuals lost their lives in the accident.

One survivor, a 23-year-old woman from Scottsdale, a suburb of Phoenix, remains hospitalized in critical condition.

Cornelius van der Walt, the pilot, was the founder of Droplyne Hot Air Balloon Rides, a company operating in Arizona and Utah, according to the company's website.

As the investigation into the hot air balloon crash continues, authorities hope to gain a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the incident. The thoughts and condolences of the community go out to the families and loved ones of those affected by this devastating tragedy.