Contact lost with Japanese balloonist over Pacific

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

TOKYO (AFP) — A Japanese adventurer on a bid to break his own world record for the longest time in a hot-air balloon lost contact Friday, a day after setting off across the Pacific Ocean, a supporter said.

Local government employee Michio Kanda, 58, left early Thursday for his 9,000-kilometre (5,580 miles) journey to North America, which was expected to take him about 60 hours.

"But supporters last received a call from him at 3:00 am (1800 GMT Thursday) just as he was about to enter US waters," said an official with the Japan Balloon Federation.

He said Kanda's supporters were calling for rescue operations and were believed to have contacted US aviation authorities.

Kanda, who has been ballooning for 30 years, set the record of 50 hours and 38...