As authorities continue sorting through the details of a hot air balloon accident that killed Malibu son Grant Adamson and seriously injured his family near Montbovon, Switzerland, more information is emerging on the balloon’s pilot, who had three years of experience and worked for the hotel where the Adamsons were reportedly staying.Â
According to a hotel media kit, Christian Dupuy, 65, had worked as the in-house hot air balloon pilot since January 2010 at the Grand Hotel Park in Gstaad, Switzerland, where the Adamsons were reportedly staying. He was injured in the crash as well but is expected to recover. The media kit, which appears to have been written in December 2010, states that Dupuy had recorded 110 hours of flight time as of the writing.Â
The hotel brochure describes Dupuy as detailed and diligent with each flight, and a lover of hot air ballooning for its great adventure and panoramic views.
Dupuy often stated, “A flight in a hot air balloon is not some kind of carnival entertainment,” according to the brochure.
“There is a whole monitoring system of checks, certificates, and authorizations, even an official licensing system,” the brochure continues. “Much to the delight of his passengers, though, Christian is obsessed with safety.”
An investigation into the crash has been opened by Swiss officials, though it could be a long time before the details of the crash are deciphered, according to Swiss reporter Adrian Schulthess. Along with a criminal investigation, authorities must also complete a flight investigation.
“There’s an additional flight accident investigation because technically this was a flight accident (think FAA investigations) but these usually take even longer, months if not years,” Schulthess said in an email to The Malibu Times.
Dupuy and the Adamsons were riding in an American-made Cameron Z-120, according to investigators.Â
“A balloon like the Grand Hotel Park’s … is 21 [meters] wide by 31 [meters] high and covers an area of 3,400 [meters-cubed],” according to the hotel.