A British adventurer has become the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a hydrogen gas balloon.
Alicia Hempleman-Adams, 36, from Bath, Somerset, took four days to make the unprecedented crossing.
Her balloon, Atlantic Explorer, launched in the US from Presque Isle, Maine at approximately 2am on June 4 after strong winds caused delays.
It used hydrogen rather than helium for lift and has an open basket – exposing its pilots to the elements.
Ms Hempleman-Adams, together with teammates Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo, landed in Bastendorf, Luxembourg on the morning of June 7.
During the journey, the three-person crew flew at an average altitude of 14,000 feet, requiring supplemental oxygen to stave off hypoxia.
In total, the trio spent 70 hours in the air, travelling 5,282 kilometres while reaching speeds of up to 100km per hour.
As well as being the closest point to Europe, the launch site was significant in the ballooning world as it was the starting point for Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman’s first ever transatlantic crossing in 1978.
Alicia Hempleman-Adams, 36, smiles after becoming the first woman to complete a manned transoceanic flight in a balloon using hydrogen gas as its sole onboard source of lift
Ms Hempleman-Adams’s balloon the Atlantic Explorer soars above the clouds during her transatlantic crossing
After successfully navigating over Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in Canada, the group collectively committed to the ocean crossing.
Once clear of Newfoundland, the only alternative landing place would have been the open ocean.
Speaking after arriving in Europe, Ms Hempleman-Adams said: ‘I’m incredibly proud that we completed the crossing and made it safely across to Luxembourg.’
She added: ‘There were times when we thought we might not make it.
‘Flying through rain caused ice to build up on the balloon, which made conditions extremely difficult and added real jeopardy to the flight.
‘It was an extraordinary team effort to keep going and bring the balloon safely across the Atlantic.
‘I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn so much from two world-class pilots.’
Ms Hempleman-Adams is the daughter of British adventurer Sir David Hempleman-Adams, 69, who previously completed the Atlantic journey solo, also in an open basket balloon.
Hempleman-Adams (left), pictured with teammates Bert Padelt (centre) and Peter Cuneo (right). The trio required supplemental oxygen since the balloon travelling at an average altitude of 14,000 feet
Alicia Hempleman-Adams and her team taking off from Presque Isle in Maine, USA on June 4
Sir David said: ‘I am enormously proud of Alicia. I know first-hand just how tough an Atlantic crossing in an open basket can be, and to complete it in such challenging conditions is a remarkable achievement.’
Ms Hempleman-Adams and her colleagues were only the second crew to attempt the transatlantic crossing using hydrogen for uplift.
The previous team, Small World in 1958, failed in their crossing – and all other flights have used helium.
Ms Hempleman-Adams was awarded an OBE by King Charles III at Windsor Castle in December 2024 for her daring feats.
In 2020 she endured temperatures as low as –30C (–22F) as she broke the women’s world record for altitude in a small hot air balloon.
Ms Hempleman-Adams flew an AX4 hot air balloon for an hour and 46 minutes at Calgary in Alberta, Canada, to achieve the record.
