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Approaching Newfoundland - redux

Well dang! No word from his website but his position tracker has been stuck on the coastline of Newfoundland for more than 12 hours and the UK Telegraph is reporting that he is calling it quits. From The Telegraph:

Balloonist�s attempt to cross Atlantic ends after only 12 hours
Mr Trappe was forced to make an early landing in Newfoundland, Canada, due to a technical issue.

Mr Trappe, 39, an IT consultant from Raleigh, North Carolina, took off on Thursday morning at 6.30am EDT, but only 12 hours later, Kevin Knapp, speaking from the command centre overseeing the flight, was he was forced to abandon the flight.

�Thankfully he is safe and well and currently making preparations to get home,� Mr Knapp said. �While disappointing that he had to cut his quest across the Atlantic short, I know Jonathan thanks everyone for their support and encouragement.�

Despite fears Atlantic weather systems would be the greatest obstacle to achieving his dream crossing, the landing was blamed on a technical problem relating to the balloons.

It is good that he plaid safe rather than taking a chance but still, this was a project he had planned for a long long time... Posted by DaveH at September 13, 2013 9:04 AM