Basic facts of the case: The balloon departed from the airport at the very northern tip of the Philippines. The flight was supposed to follow a straight path directly to an airport in French Polynesia.

The balloon’s last known location was at (-1,1) near the Solomon islands.

Pilot’s report from a nearby airplane:

“We were on our way from Australia, when we saw a hot-air balloon sinking rapidly. I am certain that it crashed south of our flight path. When we left Australia, we traveled north 2000km (or 2 units) for every 3000km (or 3 units) east that we flew.”

Phone call received today:

“I was a passenger on a flight that flew directly from French Polynesia to Indonesia. I was looking out my window when I saw the balloon going down to the north of where we were flying.”