Gordon Bennett starts today.

Thanks for the update, saw it on TV this morning. Hopefully they will be able to determine the cause of the accident. RIP.

Both missing pilots have been found. An Italian port commander said that a fishing boat hauled in the balloon cabin with the bodies still on board, 11 miles north of Vieste in southern Puglia.
RIP.
Ian

Looks like the news is going to be bad, feel sorry for the balloonists and their next of kin
Ian

The bad news is being broken slowly.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/202988/Missing-balloonists-believed-dead

Latest report today, not looking too good in my opinion. 🙁

The search and rescue operation continues for Gordon Bennett Race pilots Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer-Davis, Team USA2, balloon registration N801NM. The pilots are American citizens.

The Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) have been very proactive in their search using one aircraft, four boats and one helicopter to search sea and coastal areas.

The Italian MRCC has been extremely thorough in their operations, but unfortunately all items found have not been related to the search.

The MRCC have the support of the Croatian and Greek Search and Rescue authorities.

We are grateful to the US Consulate in Naples who has designated assets to the search operation.

Immediate and extended family of both pilots politely request that the press do not make contact with them. They do, however, appreciate the efforts of all who are raising the profile of the incident which is helping the search to gain momentum.

Both families are most grateful to all who have sent their good wishes and messages of support, and apologise that they will not be able to reply individually.

When information is available it will be posted on the www.gordonbennett2010.com site. The next planned statement will be after 9am on Friday 1st October.

Don Cameron
Flight Director, 54th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett
Bristol, GB.

Here is another update, seems to be more coverage in the U.S. than Europe! :confused:

http://www.koat.com/news/25209186/detail.html

NOTE. The tracking page is no longer active.

The search is being scaled back during the night. It is possible they are down in the Adriatic due to storms.

http://www.abqjournal.com/abqnews/abqnewseeker-mainmenu-39/24230-breaking-abq-balloonists-missing-in-gordon-bennett-race.htm

I hope they are found safe and well.
Ian

Stop press. One of the American balloons is missing, maybe in Italy or Croatia.:(

And have now stopped for Toblerone!:D

I like how you can track them. The swiss have got really far!

And this one! No landings in Spain then.

http://www.gordonbennett2010.com/tracking

Newforest this website will interest you
http://www.gordonbennett2010.com/

Ian

BBC saying between 7 and midnight, no location! 😉

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-11411584

According to the local news its lift off at 22.00 tonight, from a secret location just North of Bristol.
Ian