Texas Hot Air Balloon Crash
PAUL: Thirty-eight minutes past the hour. It is the deadliest balloon crash in U.S. history. Sixteen people were killed yesterday when a hot air balloon on a sunrise tour, image this, appears to have crashed into power lines, burst into flames and fell from the sky. Correspondent Polo Sandoval is live in Caldwell, Texas. You know, Polo, I saw a picture of authorities. One woman putting her arm around, I think it was a sheriff's deputy. This has really affected the folks there, hasn't it?</s>SANDOVAL: It certainly has, Christi. And what we're looking at here is a very tough task for investigators as they return to the scene later today. It's very difficult to make out since it's not yet sunrise but may be able to see some of the lights twinkling over my right shoulder. That is essentially where that balloon plummeted towards the ground nearly 24 hours ago. We're told by authorities that there were 16 people on board that sunrise sightseeing hot balloon tour early yesterday morning. Sadly, we're told there were no survivors. And details or names or identities of these individuals have not yet been released by the authorities who are handling this investigation which is the national transportation safety board. Ultimately investigators will have to</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First I heard a whoosh -- you know, like a whooshing sound and then it just -- a big ball of fire up. I don't think any of them even realized what was going on because we heard the popping sounds. And I didn't look in time to see the balloon go down. But the way it went up, I don't think any of them even had any idea what was going on.</s>SANDOVAL: And so you have that witness statement, Christi. You also have information from at least two law enforcement sources here in Texas telling us that this is the predominant theory right now, this preliminary investigation now suggesting that this balloon may have clipped those power lines causing that fire and ultimately the deaths of at least those 16 individuals. But ultimately the National Transportation Safety Board, Christi, will have to be the ones to actually confirm the cause. We expect them here on the ground later (ph) today (ph).</s>PAUL: Polo, I've never taken a hot air balloon ride. So that is why I'm asking this question for a lot of people who have not. Is there a communication system for the person piloting a hot air balloon to people on the ground? And is there any recording of such that might lend some sort of idea as to what happened?</s>SANDOVAL: It is going to be something that investigators are going to consider. Obviously those witness accounts here on the ground as they try to put this puzzle together because ultimately</s>PAUL: All right. Polo Sandoval, we appreciate it. Thank you.</s>BLACKWELL: Just a few days now, continuing the countdown to the Olympic Games in Rio. Now less than a week away to these opening ceremonies. Rosa Flores is there with a preview. Rosa.</s>ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Victor, CNN gains exclusive access to an aquatic search and rescue mission. We have cameras by air and by water capturing all of the dramatic events. But how do these intense trainings help firefighters prepare for the Olympic Games? I'll let you know after the break.