Hot air balloon makes surprise landing in homeowner’s yard

METHUEN, Mass. (AP) - A giant, smiley face hot air balloon has made a surprise landing in a Massachusetts homeowner’s yard.

First responders say the hot air balloon carrying six passengers landed in a Methuen yard around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. No injuries were reported.

Balloon pilot Tony Sica says they took off from New Hampshire, and the landing was normal for his company High Five Ballooning.

Sica says they mostly land in residential areas because New Hampshire is a heavily wooded state.

Sarah Benoit, the owner of the home where the balloon landed, tells WBZ-TV the pilot gave her a bottle of champagne and a thank you card.

Benoit says the passengers were in good spirits, telling her “we’re just here for some morning coffee.”

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Information from: WBZ-TV, http://cbsboston.com