Senatobia, MS family injured in Las Vegas hot air balloon crash

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A family from Senatobia, Mississippi, was injured when their hot air balloon made a hard landing and crashed near Las Vegas, Nevada, last week. Pictures from the Nye County Sheriff's Office show a deflated hot air balloon and the basket on its side. On Thursday, 10 people in a hot air balloon, including the Kairit family from Senatobia, were injured in the crash, according to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Aviation Administration. The Kairit family was in Las Vegas for a Kenny Chesney concert. Brant Kairit, the victim in the hot air balloon crash, told WREG that the flight was fine, but when it was time to land, he said the basket would tip a bit, which he thought was normal. He said there was no communication during the fall because it happened instantaneously. "I remember us starting to come down, and I think I probably got knocked out," said Kairit. "The next thing I remembered is hollering, screaming, blood everywhere, smoke, and I can't move." After he struggled to get up, he then checked on his family and started stomping out the fire. He said the landing area was remote and there was no service. The family was able to text the sheriff's office for help, and the hot air balloon company drove the victims to a hospital. Kairit said his wife was the most injured out of his family. She was flown to the Las Vegas trauma center. "My wife had surgery on her spine yesterday, but she seems to be healing well," said Kairit. His wife will also see a doctor in Memphis and other physicians after the family returns home. He said the hot air balloon company was also helpful following the crash landing. "We do think this could have been a whole lot worse, and the Lord was looking out for us. Just blessed that he was protecting us," said Kairit.