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Long-distance balloon crew land in Mexico

Two pilots, who broke the record for travelling the longest distance in a hot-air balloon, have landed safely in Mexico.

Balloon Team showing the capsule envelope recovery by a Mexican boat
Two pilots in a helium-filled balloon have landed safely off the coast of Mexico. (AAP)

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Two pilots in a helium-filled balloon have landed safely off the coast of Mexico after a record-breaking trip across the Pacific Ocean.

The pilots landed off Baja California about 480km north of Cabo San Lucas, greeted by a team of balloon enthusiasts who assisted with the landing.

The pilots came in low and dropped thick trailing ropes into the ocean to slow the balloon before setting down in a controlled water landing.

Troy Bradley of the US and Leonid Tiukhtyaev of Russia beat what's considered the "holy grail" of ballooning achievements, the 137-hour duration record in the first balloon flight across the Atlantic.

They also easily exceeded the distance record of 5209 miles (8381km) set during the first trans-Pacific flight in 1981.


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