Could an aeroplane be brought down by a helium filled balloon?
Yes – quite possibly. Remember anything floating in air can be dangerous if it comes in contact with an aircraft which is flying. This is known as a ‘mid air’ collision. A helium balloon can be as hazardous an object as any other which can collide with an aircraft in mid air. Just imagine a helium filled balloon floating in the sky and hitting an aircraft travelling at 300 to 400 kts. Depending on the point at which the balloon is likely to impact, the damage can be anything from minimal to serious.
