Balloonists Set Time Record, But China Dims Round-The-World Hopes
A European team of balloonists broke the world record Tuesday for the most time in the air, but said China’s refusal to let it float through its airspace deflated the team’s round-the-world dreams.
The Breitling Orbiter 2 control center said chances of making the historic global circuit were “zero” without a Chinese change of heart.
The huge silver balloon hovered 800 feet above northern India late Tuesday as the crew waited to see if Beijing might drop its objections. China has said the balloon poses a security risk to other aircraft in its airspace.
If China does not relent, the crew will decide by noon Wednesday whether to abort the journey in India or continue through Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Organizers say the balloon does not have enough fuel to clear the Pacific Ocean if it is forced to take a longer route to avoid China.
The team sought consolation Tuesday in besting the record set last year by American adventurer Steve Fossett for the longest time spent in the air.
Fossett was on board his Solo Challenger for 146 hours and 44 minutes before lack of fuel forced him down in a remote village 375 miles southeast of New Delhi, India.
The control center said the Swiss-led team beat that record at 8:07 a.m. EST.
Control center staff at the Geneva airport celebrated the achievement with champagne. But Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard, Belgium’s Wim Verstraeten and British flight engineer Andy Elson were less jubilant.
“It’s the icing on the cake, but unfortunately we haven’t got the cake,” Piccard said in a message.
The balloonists had hoped to take advantage of rapid jet-stream winds that would have swept the balloon across southern China to the Pacific. This would have enabled them to reach California in four days and North Africa - the planned finish - in seven.
Chinese authorities have cited the large number of commercial and military aircraft that use the jet stream, especially during the Lunar New Year holiday, which ends Tuesday, according to diplomats.
“They cannot guarantee the security of the balloon and the security of civilian air traffic,” said Florence Tinguely Mattli of the Swiss Embassy in Beijing.
Later Tuesday, during a visit to the Swiss capital, Bern, Chinese Vice Prime Minister Li Lanquing said he would communicate the Swiss appeals to the Foreign Ministry. But he stressed the technical problems involved in approval. There seemed little chance of a quick - and positive - response given that all previous requests to the Foreign Ministry have failed.