[Source MSNBC]

Deputies chase boy floating in balloon aircraft

Cops: 6-year-old takes off in family's experimental helium-balloon craft

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Watch live: KUSA follows boy floating in balloon aircraft Live video: Authorities try to figure out how to safely bring down a 6-year-old boy who apparently floated away from home in his family's experimental balloon-powered aircraft. NBC News

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FORT COLLINS. Colo. - Authorities were trying to determine Thursday how to safely bring down a 6-year-old boy who reportedly clambered into his family's experimental balloon-powered aircraft and floated away from home, sheriff's officials said.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Department said the boy's family had been building an experimental aircraft that had a large helium balloon attached to it at their home, KUSA-TV reported. The aircraft was approximately 20 feet by 5 feet and covered in tin foil, the station said.

On Thursday morning, according to the family and officials, the boy got onto the aircraft and detached the rope holding it in place. Sheriff's spokeswoman Eloise Campanella said the boy climbed into the access door and the airborne device took off.

Several people in the neighborhood said they saw the aircraft floating over their homes and some snapped pictures.

Television news helicopters were tracking the craft, which was last seen floating south of Milliken, about 40 miles north of Denver.

Officials were scrambling to figure out how to rescue the boy.

The craft, which is shaped like a flying saucer, has the potential to rise to 10,000 feet, Campanella said.

It looks like it just rapidly lost a lot of helium, hope the kid is alright.

Click the source above for the live feed.

Looks like the kid wasn't in it when the balloon landed. That can't be a good sign.

could easily be a hoax

Yeah, most parents don't joke around about their kid being missing. It is considered "bad form."

I don't know, this is seeming more and more like a giant Rick Roll...

They are asking if there could have been another compartment the kid was in but why are they asking if? Shouldn't the parents know this and shouldn't they have seen a picture of the craft while in the air and notice there's a piece at least a six year old can fit into missing?

I live in Fort Collins and this whole story is making me sick to my stomach. I just can't shake the feeling that this is a giant diversion...

I don't think the kid was ever in the thing to begin with, one giant prank to be on the news.

at 1st i was LOLOL...the kid not being in the balloon nearly made me vomit...not it could be a prank,..id be pissed....3 emotions in 60sec

Or a cover up to what actually happened to the boy?

Or he got scared and jumped out.