Horror over the skies in Virginia as a hot air balloon caught fire and crashed Friday evening.

Two passengers and the pilot are believed to have perished.

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balloon accident va

The accident took place at the Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, Va., on the eve of Mid-Atlantic Balloon Festival. The first reports came in around 8 p.m. ET, authorities said.

Cole Holocker, 18, told NBC News he was headed to North Carolina with his family on Route 301 near Army base Fort A.P. Hill when he noticed black smoke in the distance.