After surviving a fiery balloon crash last fall, Krzysztof Zapart died earlier this month in another crash involving a gas balloon.
Last October, The Dallas Express reported that Zapart and another pilot teammate, Pjotr Halas, were hospitalized after crashing into power lines near Crandall. The two were competing in the 66th Gordon Bennett gas balloon distance race at the time.
Now, roughly four months after surviving the first accident in Kaufman Country, Zapart has died in another crash that occurred in Georgia in Eastern Europe.
Israel Alfaro, who helped rescue Zapart when his balloon came down near Crandall, recalled the bond he, Zapart, and Halas formed following the crash.
“The last time we all saw each other, it was a great, happy moment. We were all ecstatic about all the positive things that were going on. They were able to go home,” Alfaro told NBC 5 DFW.
When he heard about the second accident in Eastern Europe, Alfaro said he “couldn’t wrap my head around what happened,” recalling its similarity to the crash in North Texas.
According to Fox 4 KDFW, Georgian media reported that Zapar was one of three people killed during a test flight in the country. The crew was reportedly trying to set the world record for flying the longest distance with a hot air balloon when the balloon crashed into a high-voltage power line.
In the crash last fall in Texas, Zapart’s balloon hit power lines at an electrical substation.
Alfaro said he had been looking forward to supporting his new friend in his record attempt.
“We were constantly communicating with each other via Facebook Messenger and whatnot. And we were excited and happy to start this new friendship,” Alfaro told NBC 5.
Zapart was 52 at the time of his death. His teammate and colleague Halas did not participate in the balloon event in Georgia, as he is still recovering from his injuries sustained last fall.