Fossett flies over the Andes

Antofagasta - The American adventurer Mr Steve Fossett soared over the Andes yesterday as he reached the halfway mark in his …

Antofagasta - The American adventurer Mr Steve Fossett soared over the Andes yesterday as he reached the halfway mark in his quest to be the first person to fly around the world solo in a balloon.

The 57-year-old millionaire cleared the coast of Chile above heavy clouds overnight and by yesterday morning was passing over a 6,700- metre peak in the mountains that form the backbone of South America.

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter