Hot air balloon nearly shot down as suspicions over mysterious flying objects intensify

The proliferation of mysterious objects soaring high above our heads has captured Americans’ fears and imaginations. But for one unfortunate Montana business owner, it has also captured his livelihood.

Robert Henderson has been a hot air balloon pilot and tour guide near the town of Whitefish for the past 23 years. His business, Bob’s Hot Air, treats customers to balloon rides, where they are treated to the splendid, natural wilderness that Montana has to offer.

When the hour is over, Bob returns them to the ground safely and securely. In his near-quarter century of captaining balloon rides, Bob has never experienced an accident, and no one has ever gotten hurt.

His perfect record was put in serious jeopardy last week, however, when during one of the rides he heard a series of intense sounds whistling past the balloon. After a few moments, he realized they were bullets flying through the air that, for some reason, were aimed directly at his bulbous, propane-powered vessel.