Wind extends balloon ride by an hour

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CLACKAMAS, Ore., June 11 (UPI) -- An Oregon woman said the hot air balloon ride her husband took her on for her birthday ended up lasting an extra hour and culminated with an emergency landing.

Marie Suchy of Clackamas said her husband Aaron surprised her with a hot air balloon ride Saturday morning for her 32nd birthday and the trip made headlines when it ended with an emergency landing on a stretch of grass by Interstate 205 near Milwaukie, The (Portland) Oregonian reported Monday.

The pilot, Derek Hancock of Portland Rose Hot Air Balloons, said he made the emergency landing near the highway because his previous two potential landing areas were rendered unusable by strong winds. He said the vehicle and its passengers were never in danger. And he had plenty of fuel to last the extra hour the trip ended up taking.

Suchy said the unusual circumstances did not stop her from enjoying her flight.

"It's very, very, very peaceful. Just amazing. We had the best time," Suchy said. "Even with the big ending, it was so cool."