High Winds Cancel Balloon Fiesta Launch

A mass launch of balloons at the kickoff of an annual hot-air balloon festival in New Mexico has been cancelled because of high winds.  Hundreds of hot-air balloons were expected to rise into the sky early Saturday morning at the 41st Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

The Albuquerque Journal reports the launch was delayed from 5:45 a.m. and then cancelled at 7 a.m. Groans and sighs could be heard from the launch field as a public address announcer passed on the news.

Winds were at about 30 mph at 1,000 feet and well above safety limits.

The nine-day event drew slightly more than 700,000 spectators last year.

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Online:

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta: http://www.balloonfiesta.com/

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.