A hot air balloon surprised tutors and students at Reading University when it ‘unexpectedly’ landed near its Union building on Tuesday.

The 16 Virgin Balloon Flights passengers from Henley had no classes scheduled when they dropped onto Whitenights Campus at 19.50pm.

But they could be mistaken for recent graduates, as they performed a champagne toast to the pilot once on the ground.

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“We’re always happy to have members of the local community drop into our beautiful green campus, but usually not literally out of the sky,” said a spokesperson for the University of Reading.

“We did have a report of a hot air balloon that made an unexpected landing on campus on an area of grass and tarmac close to the students’ union.

“There did not appear to be any injuries or damage caused.”

Reading Chronicle: Credit: Julie CrabtreeCredit: Julie Crabtree

A spokesperson for Virgin Balloon Flights said passengers took off from Henley-On-Thames at 6.50pm at that the landing was intentional.

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“Our highly skilled pilot, who has been flying hot air balloons for over 30 years, was in full control at all times and all of his 16 passengers had a wonderful flight, enjoying a traditional Champagne toast after landing and helping to pack the balloon away,” said the spokesperson.

“Hot air balloons travel where the wind takes them and can’t be ‘steered’ in the traditional sense like most aircraft.

“Our Pilot is on good terms with the landowner of the Whitenights Campus and had received permission to land.”

They said: “The balloon and basket were then loaded by our crew onto the recovery vehicle before they returned with our passengers back to the original launch site.

The spokesperson said ballooning is weather dependent and their pilots assess weather forecasts a few hours before any flight, considering factors like wind speed, direction and visibility.

“During the flying season we scheduled flights both early in the morning, usually just after sunrise, and in the evening before sunset, when conditions are at their calmest.”