16 people were feared dead after a hot air balloon caught on fire in Texas

16 people were feared dead Saturday after a hot air balloon caught on fire and crashed in Central Texas, officials siad.

Caldwell County Sheriff Daniel Law said in a statement his office received a 911 call at 7:44 a.m. local time about a possible vehicle accident at a spot near Lockhart, Texas.

He said when emergency responders and deputies arrived on the scene it was apparent that the reported fire was the basket portion of a hot air balloon.

“The Balloon was occupied and it does not appear at this time that there were any survivors of the crash,” the sheriff said. “Investigators are determining the number and the identities of victims at this time.”

The balloon was carrying 16 people, officials said.

Lynn Lunsford with the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the accident happened when the hot air balloon crashed into a pasture.

Lunsford said that the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are going to the scene to investigate.

Lockhart is about 30 miles south of Austin