The 'balloon family' is pretty much busted. Video of them releasing balloon surfaces

[MB4CY]

This.

Double this. Can I do that?

They we're at least planning about clearing air space around DIA for this balloon, and they had emergency personel chasing it down when they should have been available for real alarms. Absolutely pathetic.

[Ms3r4ISU]

They should be sued for the cost of all the emergency personel, etc.

Why sue? Why not just bill them?

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

As we all know, DIA is a major airline hub. 5 flights from Omaha to Denver were delayed as a result of this as I'm sure many other flights into Denver and out. If this was a hoax then he's going to have a lot more to worry about than the bill. I would assume he would to be facing federal charges.

[isucyfan]

What are you guys seeing in the video that says "hoax"?

My thought was that it didn't start out that way...I think they lost the balloon, then turned it into a hoax. Reports said that this "launch" was supposed to make the balloon hover by the tethers, not fly away.

Could go either way, but I just don't think the video is conclusive. I think it morphed into a hoax, but wasn't premeditated.

[Stewo]

What are you guys seeing in the video that says "hoax"?

My thought was that it didn't start out that way...I think they lost the balloon, then turned it into a hoax. Reports said that this "launch" was supposed to make the balloon hover by the tethers, not fly away.

Could go either way, but I just don't think the video is conclusive. I think it morphed into a hoax, but wasn't premeditated.

They would(should) know if their kid was in there in the first place. That would only make sense. Also, why would there be a manhunt for him? One last thing, right when the video stops, look at the smile on the mothers face. Do you really think that she'd be smiling if her 6 year old child was floating away? I don't.

[A-town Cy]

I wonder if ABC News bought that video from them.