Balloon aviator has to abandon 2,500-mile journey across Atlantic

A balloon aviator's attempt to cross the Atlantic using 370 helium balloons had to end just 12 hours into the journey due to a technical issue. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Cluster balloonist Jonathan Trappe was forced to make the early landing in Newfoundland, Canada.

The 39-year-old messaged his followers on Facebook saying he had landed at an 'alternate location' but was safe and well.

The IT consultant from Raleigh, North Carolina, US, took off on Thursday morning, attempting to be the first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean via cluster balloon.

According to The Guardian, the transatlantic trip could have been as long as 2,500 miles (4,000km) and taken between three and five days.

Trappe could have landed anywhere between Iceland and Morocco.

The BBC reports that in a statement, his flight team said: "Sadly Jonathan has been forced to abandon his quest early after experiencing technical difficulties over Newfoundland.

"However, we are happy to report he is safe and well."

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