Hot Air Balloon Catches Fire in Virginia

A hot air balloon caught fire Friday evening at Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Virginia, witnesses told the State Police.

The balloon held a pilot and two passengers, State Police spokeswoman Corinne Geller told a news conference at the scene. She said authorities had yet to locate the wreckage. The Federal Aviation Administration was assisting at the scene.

Shortly before 8 p.m., the balloon caught fire before ascending into the air. According to the Caroline County Sheriff's Office, some passengers were seen jumping from the balloon, while others remain unaccounted for, ABC affiliate WRIC reported.

The Mid-Atlantic Balloon Festival at the Meadow is being held at the park on Saturday and Sunday.

The festival's home page had this event planned for the evening: "Join us on Friday evening for a special limited-ticket happy hour to watch balloon teams take off in flight and return for a beautiful full balloon glow...tickets for this event are advance-sale only and limited to 1,500 people."