10 Photos Remembering the Balloon Boy Hoax
Carly Tennes
Published
01/03/2025
in
facepalm
It was a story reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz. A young boy from Colorado thought to have climbed aboard his father's UFO-like weather balloon, flown for miles and crash-landed in the middle of a field near Denver.
Despite having all the makings of a viral news story that would garner shock, awe and millions of eyes even in today's internet economy, there was one problem with this 2009 tale: None of it was true.
From his parents' origin story to their final convictions, here are 10 photos remembering the balloon boy hoax.
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1. Balloon Boy Hoax
Courtesy of CNNOf all the media sensations that have captivated audiences in recent years, none took off — pun avoidable — like the balloon boy hoax of 2009. -
2. The Origins
Courtesy of NBC NewsOn October 15, 2009, Richard and Mayumi Heene of Fort Collins, Colorado seemingly found themselves living every parents nightmare after they claimed their then six-year-old son, Falcon, was trapped in a saucer-shaped weather balloon that floated away after they forgot to tether it to the ground. -
3. Crisis Control
Courtesy of AeonWhile some accounts claim the Heenes first phoned the Federal Aviation Administration — local authorities later alleged that "they had no confirmation that Richard Heene actually made the call to the FAA” — the family, who was set to appear on reality series ‘Wife Swap,’ started contacting local media outlets before reaching out to 911 about their situation. -
4. 911 Concerns
Courtesy of Inside Edition“I don't know whether it's possible you guys could detect the electricity that it emits ... it emits a million volts on the outer skin,” Heene allegedly said during the call. -
5. Search and Rescue
Image in Public DomainHitting 7,000 feet during its 90 minute flight, police officers — and even the National Guard — sprung to action in an attempt to save Falcon, a rescue mission that came out to roughly $40,000. -
6. Media Madness
Courtesy of Inside EditionBut it wasn’t just authorities who were riveted — and terrified — by this case. The incident quickly ignited headlines around the world, dominating news outlets an becoming the number one most searched topic on Google. The story even made it on ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ Weekend Update segment. -
7. Touchdown Terror
Courtesy of Inside EditionAs the world watched with bated breath, the balloon finally landed roughly 12 miles away from Denver’s airport, with Falcon nowhere to be found. While some briefly speculated that the child had fallen out during the balloon’s hour-and-a-half flight, he was later discovered to have been hiding in the family’s attic during the entire ordeal. “For all we know he may have been two blocks down the road playing on the swing in the city park,” the county sheriff said of the incident. -
8. Suspicions Swell
Beyond questions of whether the balloon could actually carry a 50-pound boy into the sky, the family’s behavior also began raising questions. During an appearance on CNN, Falcon was asked why he was hiding, to which he said, “Um … you guys said … that, um … we did this for the show.” -
9. Catching On
Courtesy of AP on YouTubeThough his parents quickly tried to backtrack, the damage had been done, prompting police to change their tune on whether the incident was a hoax. “We believe we have evidence at this point to indicate that this was a publicity stunt in hopes to better market themselves for a reality show,” the sheriff said after the family’s ill-fated news appearance. -
10. Crime and Punishment
Courtesy of ABC News on YouTubeUltimately the couple were punished for their role in the hoax. Richard Heene was sentenced to 90 days behind bars for attempting to influence a public servant. Meanwhile, Mayumi Heene was sentenced to 20 days of weekend jail. The pair were ultimately pardoned in 2020 by Colorado Governor Jared Polis. As of 2019, Richard denies the ordeal was a hoax, denouncing media coverage of his family as hit pieces.
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Balloon Boy Hoax
Of all the media sensations that have captivated audiences in recent years, none took off — pun avoidable — like the balloon boy hoax of 2009.
Of all the media sensations that have captivated audiences in recent years, none took off — pun avoidable — like the balloon boy hoax of 2009.
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