billed as “the oldest and most prestigious aeronautical race in the world.” They took off from Bristol, UK, late Saturday night and drifted southward toward the Pyrenees before heading east. The team that can fly the furthest in their gas-powered balloon wins the race.

The tracking device affixed to their balloon, call sign N-801NM, last registered a signal while flying over the Adriatic Sea on Wednesday morning at 8 a.m. local time. The balloon was moving at 7 knots at an altitude of 9,000 feet after having covered more than 1,100 miles since its departure. Signals are supposed to be received and recorded every 15 minutes, and the duo did radio in to Italian authorities that they were having problems. Since then, there has been radio silence.

The balloon was less than 15 miles from the Italian coast when contact was lost, although thunderstorms were reported in the vicinity.

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Authors: Erik Malinowski

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