First human ascent in hot air balloon

First human ascent in hot air balloon cover image
  1. Home
  2. Events
  3. Events on 15 October
  4. First human ascent in hot air balloon

15 October, 1783

Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier became the first human to ascend on a hot air balloon on 15th October 1783 . He piloted the tethered Montgolfier brothers’ hot air balloon to a height of 80 feet. FYI, according to some reports, it was Étienne Montgolfier who made the first human ascent.

Rozier became the first air casualty along with Pierre Romain. In 1785, as the two were trying to cross the English channel, their hot air balloon exploded, killing them as a result.