Slovenia bans hot air balloon flights after fatal crash

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) - Slovenia's authorities have temporarily banned all hot air balloon flights following a crash that killed four people and injured 28.

The country's Civil Aviation Agency said on Monday the ban was issued in line with recommendations of its team that is investigating the accident which happened Thursday near the capital, Ljubljana.

Slovenia's STA news agency says preliminary findings show that the accident was caused by a low-altitude wind shear that was triggered by an incoming storm. The balloon with 32 people in its basket was swept up by the wind and crashed in a ball of flame.

All the killed passengers were Slovenian citizens, including an 11-year-old girl and her mother. Two British and two Italian nationals were injured. Hot air ballooning is popular in the small Alpine country.