The incident, broadcast live across the nation, captivated viewers – until it was exposed as an elaborate hoax orchestrated by the boy's parents in their pursuit of fame.

The drama began before noon on 15/10/2009 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Richard and Mayumi Heene told authorities and the media that their 6-year-old son, Falcon, was trapped inside a homemade, helium-filled silver balloon, shaped like a UFO. They claimed Falcon had climbed into the balloon before it accidentally broke loose from its tether in their backyard. He was now purportedly adrift at an altitude of over 2,000 meters.

The story quickly escalated into a national emergency. The Colorado National Guard deployed helicopters, Denver International Airport halted flights, and the Department of Homeland Security launched an investigation. Falcon was dubbed "balloon boy" by the media.

Live television coverage followed the balloon's wind-driven journey for nearly two hours, traveling some 112 km across northern Colorado. When it finally landed near Keenesburg, Colorado, rescue crews rushed to the scene, only to find the balloon empty.

The UFO-shaped balloon landed in a field after a 112 km journey. Photo: *Sun*

Authorities launched a frantic search, fearing the boy had fallen out. Hours later, Falcon was discovered hiding in the attic of the family home, safe and sound.

Initially, it seemed like a misunderstanding; the boy had hidden, afraid of being scolded. But suspicions arose during a live interview with CNN that evening. When asked why he had hidden, Falcon turned to his father and said, "You guys said that, um, we did this for the show." This innocent comment immediately raised red flags, suggesting the entire event might have been staged.

Richard Heene was described as a self-proclaimed inventor, storm chaser, and aspiring reality TV star. He met Mayumi, originally from Japan, at a Hollywood acting school and they married in 1997. The couple ran a video production business and were known for eccentric hobbies, including UFO hunting, often involving their three sons – Falcon, Bradford, and Ryo.

Before the "balloon boy" incident, the Heenes had a taste of notoriety, appearing on ABC's reality show *Wife Swap*, not once, but twice. The network described the family as "science and UFO enthusiasts, obsessed with extraterrestrials," dedicating their time to scientific experiments including searching for aliens and building weather-gathering flying saucers to send into storms.

Richard and Mayumi Heene pose with their three sons in front of their home in 2009. Photo: *Reuters*

Before Richard called the police to report his son missing, he had contacted a local television station, requesting they send a news helicopter. The stunt successfully garnered national attention, until Falcon inadvertently exposed the lie during a live television moment.

A day after Falcon was found, authorities began treating the incident as a potential hoax. The Heenes were investigated on charges of conspiracy, making false statements, and attempting to influence a public servant.

Investigators quickly concluded the Heenes had staged the event to gain media attention and increase their chances of landing their own reality TV show. Richard had previously pitched reality TV ideas, including investigating scientific mysteries.

While Richard publicly denied the hoax, investigators said Mayumi admitted to them it was a planned stunt. The goal? In a sworn affidavit, Mayumi stated they wanted to make their family more marketable for future media opportunities.

In November 2009, Richard pleaded guilty to attempting to influence a public servant, a felony charge. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail. "I'm very, very sorry. And I want to apologize to all the rescue workers out there," Richard stated after sentencing.

Mayumi pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of making a false report to authorities and received a 20-day sentence. The couple was also ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution for emergency response costs, perform community service, and prohibited from profiting from the incident.

Despite this, the Heenes maintained their innocence, claiming they were coerced into pleading guilty out of fear of Mayumi's deportation.

The "balloon boy" hoax became a media sensation, sparking debates about parenting, media sensationalism, and the ethics of reality television.

In the years following the incident, the Heenes largely disappeared from the public eye. They moved to Florida, then New York. The Heene sons formed a metal band called Heene Boyz, using their past notoriety as a unique branding tool. Their first single was "Balloon Boy No Hoax".

In December 2020, Colorado Governor Jared Polis pardoned both Richard and Mayumi, officially clearing their criminal records.

Tue Anh (*Oxygen*, *Sun*)