Horrifying moment hot air balloon crashes into powerlines and explodes but miraculously three on board escape with just minor injuries

This is the horrifying moment three hot air balloon passengers have a close brush with death as the aircraft collides with a powerline, leaving them plummeting from the sky near a highway.

Terrifying flashes of electricity can be seen as a gust of wind pushes the hot air balloon into the line upon its descent down to earth.

The horrifying explosion separated the aircraft passengers from the balloon keeping them airborne.

Despite dramatically dropping 30 meters to the ground in Rochester, Minnesota - no one was seriously injured, with two of the passengers sustaining minor injuries, according to the Rochester Fire Department.

The heart-racing incident, which sent the balloon flying into the sky, caused a small blaze in the area near the basket of passengers next to the US Highway 63 southbound.

'Everyone is miraculously ok. They hung up on the power lines. The was some sparking going with them hanging in the power lines in the basket,' Rochester Fire Captain, Chad Kuhlam told CBS. 

A hot air balloon with three passengers collided with a powerline, letting off terrifying sparks of electricity (pictured) 

The passengers were left plummeting 30 feet to the ground in Rochester, Minnesota after the aircraft reportedly was pushed in the electricity line's path by the wind

Despite the heart-racing incident only two of the passengers suffered minor injuries (pictured: emergency services arriving to the scene)

'Eventually, the wire gave way and the basket and they took a drop from that wire to the ground.'

Preliminary findings suggest that the aircraft had been trying to safely land when the wind blew it directly into the deadly electricity line's path, Rochester Police Department said.

Following the collision the basket and balloon became disconnected, leaving the basket of three passengers spiraling to the ground at 6.50pm Central Daylight Time on Wednesday.

An area nearby the basket went up in flames after the crash, but firefighters were quick to douse the blaze, according to CBS.

The severed balloon was discovered a couple of miles away from the scene.

The National Transportation Safety Board alongside the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the hot air balloon has been recovered for examination.

This comes shortly after shows haunting moments before a man fell to his death from a hot air balloon in Melbourne. 

A small blaze broke out near the basket which plummeted from the sky next to the US Highway 63 southbound (pictured)

The man was one of ten people on the ride when it took off at about 7am on Monday.

A video, obtained by 7News, shows the man, dressed in a brown jumper, standing alongside other guests as they enjoyed the dawn view over the city.

Witnesses said the man seemed fine and was chatting with the ride operator about politics as the balloon launched into the air.

But ten minutes later, as the ride reached around 450metres, he shockingly - and without warning - exited the basket in an act of self-harm and plunged to his death.

The pilot made an immediate may day call as horrified motorists and families on the ground witnessed the man falling through the air.

Firefighters were quick to arrive and douse out the flames caused by the crash which happened at 6.50pm Central Daylight Time on Wednesday (pictured)

The National Transportation Safety Board alongside the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident (pictured: the hot air balloon basket next to the smoking debris)

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