A THIRD Briton has died following the horrific hot air balloon crash in Egypt today.
Tour operator Thomas Cook had earlier announced that two Britons had been killed and two more injured when the balloon plunged in flames to the ground in Luxor.
Shortly after 1pm the company said that one of the two injured Britons had since died. This took the total death toll to 19.
Witnesses described how they had seen tourists jumping from the balloon after it exploded at 1,000ft before crashing in fields.
Bodies of the dead were scattered across the fields around the remnants of the balloon.
The two Britons who initially survived were thought to have been in a critical condition when they were taken to hospital with the only other survivor – the Egyptian pilot.
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Twitter user @chrismichel's aerial picture looking down on a group of tourists as the balloons pass over Luxor
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Twitter user @chrismichel's picture of the launch site near Luxor in Egypt, prior to a hot air balloon explosion which killed 19 tourists
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Twitter user @chrismichel's picture of the launch site near Luxor in Egypt, prior to a hot air balloon explosion which killed 19 tourists
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Photo of the launch site near Luxor in Egypt, prior to a hot air balloon explosion which killed 19 tourists including a number of Britons
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Photo of the launch site near Luxor in Egypt, prior to a hot air balloon explosion which killed 19 tourists including a number of Britons
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Rescue workers remove a body from the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor
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Egyptians gather at the site of a balloon crash where the remains of the burned gondola can be seen
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Egyptians and Luxor Governor Ezzat Saad, fourth left, inspect the scene of the balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor
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Egyptian rescue workers wait to transport the dead bodies of foreign tourists from the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor
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Egyptian workers collect evidence at the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor
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Egyptian workers collect evidence at the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor
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An Egyptian worker collects evidence near the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor
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Shoes lie on the ground near the scene of where the balloon crashed outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor
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An Egyptian worker removes evidence near the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor
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An Egyptian worker collects evidence near the scene of a balloon crash outside al-Dhabaa village, just west of the city of Luxor
Initially announcing the two British deaths, Thomas Cook UK and Europe chief executive Peter Fankhauser said: “What happened in Luxor this morning is a terrible tragedy and the thoughts of everyone in Thomas Cook are with our guests, their family and friends.”
He said the company had a very experienced team in Luxor and that full support was being provided to the family and friends of those who had died.
Thomas Cook said it was working with local officials and a full investigation would be taking taking place.
“While this investigation is under way, Thomas Cook UK has temporarily suspended sales of hot air balloon rides in Egypt,” the company added.
