plaintiff:
- N/A (Coroner's Inquest)

defendant:
- N/A (Coroner's Inquest)

case_reason: >
  Coroner's inquest into the deaths of nine Hong Kong citizens who died in a hot air balloon 
  accident in Luxor, Egypt on 26 February 2013. The inquest was held to inquire into the 
  cause of death and circumstances connected with the deaths, and to make recommendations 
  to prevent future similar tragedies.

judgment_summary: >
  The Coroner found that all nine deceased died on the morning of 26 February 2013 during 
  a hot air balloon ride over Luxor City when the balloon caught fire during the landing 
  procedure. The fire was caused by a hose fuel leak at the upper portion of the forward 
  right hose connected to burner number 193. The medical cause of death for all deceased 
  was multiple injuries and burns. The Coroner concluded that the deaths were deaths by 
  accident. The inquest revealed significant issues regarding: (1) inadequate risk assessment 
  by the travel company Kuoni before offering the hot air balloon activity; (2) insufficient 
  information provided to tour escorts and customers about the risks involved; (3) ambiguous 
  insurance coverage information; (4) maintenance discrepancies by the Egyptian balloon 
  operator Sky Cruise; and (5) lack of proper pre-departure checks. The Coroner made 
  recommendations for travel companies to conduct proper risk assessments, provide clear 
  information to customers about risks and insurance coverage, and ensure adequate supervision 
  of local service providers.

jurisdiction_code: >
  HKCRC

jurisdiction_name: >
  Coroner's Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

case_location:
- Coroner's Court
- Hong Kong

case_object:
- Nine deceased Hong Kong citizens
- Hot air balloon (Ultramagic N425, registered as SU 283)
- Travel insurance coverage
- Risk assessment procedures
- Safety information disclosure

judgment_result:
- allegation_content: Cause of death was multiple injuries and burns
  established: Y
- allegation_content: Deaths occurred during hot air balloon ride in Luxor, Egypt on 26 February 2013
  established: Y
- allegation_content: Fire was caused by hose fuel leak at forward right hose connected to burner number 193
  established: Y
- allegation_content: Conclusion as to the deaths - deaths by accident
  established: Y

involved_entities:
- name: June Cheung, Coroner
  state_reasons: Presided over the inquest and delivered the inquisition on 7 June 2016
- name: HO Oi-hing, HO Oi-ying, HO Oi-ming, TANG Yuk-ling, SIU Chi-man, KWAN Pui-man Eleni, POON Lau-tim, TO Sau-ching, POON Tak-sze
  state_reasons: The nine deceased Hong Kong citizens who died in the hot air balloon accident
- name: Kuoni Travel
  state_reasons: Travel company that organized the 10-day Egypt tour and offered the hot air balloon ride as an optional activity; failed to conduct adequate risk assessment
- name: Paradise Travel
  state_reasons: Destination Management Company (DMC) engaged by Kuoni for the Egypt tour; responsible for selecting Sky Cruise as the local service provider
- name: Egyptian Airship and Balloon-Sky Cruise Company (Sky Cruise)
  state_reasons: Local hot air balloon service provider in Luxor; operated the balloon that caught fire; had maintenance discrepancies
- name: Mr Momen Murad Ali Hussein
  state_reasons: Egyptian pilot aged 29 who was piloting the hot air balloon; survived the accident with serious burn injuries; held commercial balloon pilot licence since 2006
- name: Mr Wilson AU
  state_reasons: Tour escort from Kuoni who accompanied the deceased on the tour; provided limited safety briefing to tour members
- name: LAU Tak ping
  state_reasons: Senior manager of Kuoni responsible for product designing and tour planning; testified that no formal risk assessment was conducted
- name: Mr Chadwick
  state_reasons: General Aviation Flight Standard Officer (Balloon Operations) from UK Civil Aviation Authority; provided expert evidence on hot air balloon operations
- name: Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation
  state_reasons: Issued the AAIC investigation report in December 2013 which concluded the probable cause was hose fuel leak
- name: Travel Industry Council (TIC)
  state_reasons: Industry regulatory body; Chairman Mr Joseph Tung testified at the inquest

