British balloonist aims high denying accusations

The balloonist who may have set an altitude record in Colorado on Tuesday says he is cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration. British balloonist David Hempleman-Adams, 47, says he has sent officials his pilot’s license, certificate of registration and information from Tuesday’s flight.

He took off from Greeley in his open basket balloon around 6 a.m. and landed about 3 1/2 hours later in a farmer's field near Akron, 100 miles east of Denver on the Colorado plains. He says he went around 42,000 feet high, which would be a new altitude record for balloon flight.

But the FAA says he is being investigated for several possible violations, including crossing into Denver International Airport airspace.

The current record is 38,507 feet, set in 1999 by the Breitling Orbiter crew in a pressurized cabin, reports 9news.com

The balloonist, mountaineer and polar explorer denied allegations that he entered restricted airspace and did not have the proper licence during his record attempt in Colorado, United States.

The father-of-three from Box, Wiltshire, on Tuesday reached about 43,000ft - more than eight miles - in a balloon with an open wicker basket.

However, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating whether Mr Hempleman-Adams, 47, was issued with a US licence for the balloon flight, whether he was in restricted airspace, and whether he had the required transmitter on board, inform Scotsman.com