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First British woman crosses Atlantic in hydrogen balloon surviving 4 freezing nights

Handout photo issued by Johnny Green of Alicia Hempleman-Adams after she landed, the British female adventurer was part of a three person team to complete a historic Atlantic hydrogen balloon crossing. Alicia, from Bath, Somerset, landed with her teammates Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo in Bastendorf in Luxembourg at 5.58 UTC Sunday 7 June. Issue date: Sunday June 7, 2026. PA Photo. Their mission was to attempt the first successful manned transoceanic flight in a balloon using hydrogen gas as its sole onboard source of lift. During the journey, the team flew at an average altitude of 14,000 feet, spending 70 hours in the air across four days, travelling 5,282 thousand kilometres with speeds of up to 100km per hour. Photo credit should read: Johnny Green/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Alicia Hempleman-Adams after she landed, the British female adventurer was part of a three person team to complete a historic Atlantic hydrogen balloon crossing. (Picture: Johnny Green/PA Wire)

A British adventurer has made history after flying across the Atlantic Ocean in a hydrogen-powered balloon.

Alicia Hempleman-Adams, from Bath, completed the epic journey alongside teammates Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo, touching down in Bastendorf, Luxembourg, at 5.58am on Sunday.

She has now become the first British woman, and second woman in history, to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a gas balloon.

The gruelling 70-hour journey began in Presque Isle, Maine, on Thursday morning. Flying at an average altitude of 14,000 feet and hitting speeds of up to 62mph, the trio faced were in an open basket that left them completely exposed to the freezing elements.

Handout photo issued by Paul Cyr of Peter Cuneo, Bert Padelt and Alicia Hempleman-Adams taking off from Presque Isle, Maine, USA, the British female adventurer was part of a three person team to complete a historic Atlantic hydrogen balloon crossing. Alicia, from Bath, Somerset, landed with her teammates Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo in Bastendorf in Luxembourg at 5.58 UTC Sunday 7 June. Issue date: Sunday June 7, 2026. PA Photo. Their mission was to attempt the first successful manned transoceanic flight in a balloon using hydrogen gas as its sole onboard source of lift. During the journey, the team flew at an average altitude of 14,000 feet, spending 70 hours in the air across four days, travelling 5,282 thousand kilometres with speeds of up to 100km per hour. Photo credit should read: Paul Cyr/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
During the journey, the team flew at an average altitude of 14,000 feet, spending 70 hours in the air across four days, travelling 5,282 kilometres with speeds of up to 100km per hour. (Picture: Paul Cyr/PA Wire)

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The team’s goal was to complete the first successful manned transoceanic flight powered solely by hydrogen gas.

Once they cleared Newfoundland, they had no safety net – the only alternative landing spot would have been the open ocean.

To find the right flight path, the pilots had to constantly change altitudes.

Handout photo issued by Johnny Green of (Left to right) Bert Padelt, Alicia Hempleman-Adams and Peter Cuneo after they landed, the British female adventurer was part of a three person team to complete a historic Atlantic hydrogen balloon crossing. Alicia, from Bath, Somerset, landed with her teammates Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo in Bastendorf in Luxembourg at 5.58 UTC Sunday 7 June. Issue date: Sunday June 7, 2026. PA Photo. Their mission was to attempt the first successful manned transoceanic flight in a balloon using hydrogen gas as its sole onboard source of lift. During the journey, the team flew at an average altitude of 14,000 feet, spending 70 hours in the air across four days, travelling 5,282 thousand kilometres with speeds of up to 100km per hour. Photo credit should read: Johnny Green/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Bert Padelt, Hempleman-Adams and Peter Cuneo after they landed. (Picture: Johnny Green/PA Wire)

Speaking after the landing, Hempleman-Adams said: ‘I’m incredibly proud that we completed the crossing and made it safely across to Luxembourg.

‘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.’

Hempleman-Adams, who was awarded an MBE for services to hot air ballooning in the King’s Birthday Honours in 2024, is now celebrating the record-breaking feat.

Handout photo issued by Johnny Green of Sir David Hempleman-Adams with his daughter Alicia Hempleman-Adams after she landed, the British female adventurer was part of a three person team to complete a historic Atlantic hydrogen balloon crossing. Alicia, from Bath, Somerset, landed with her teammates Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo in Bastendorf in Luxembourg at 5.58 UTC Sunday 7 June. Issue date: Sunday June 7, 2026. PA Photo. Their mission was to attempt the first successful manned transoceanic flight in a balloon using hydrogen gas as its sole onboard source of lift. During the journey, the team flew at an average altitude of 14,000 feet, spending 70 hours in the air across four days, travelling 5,282 thousand kilometres with speeds of up to 100km per hour. Photo credit should read: Johnny Green/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Sir David Hempleman-Adams with his daughter Alicia Hempleman-Adams after she landed.(Picture: Johnny Green/PA Wire)

Aviation excellence runs in the family. Her father, Sir David Hempleman-Adams, previously completed the exact same Atlantic crossing solo in an open basket.

He 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.’

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