THE race was back on yesterday to become the first person to fly round the world by balloon after American Mr Steve Fossett was forced to abandon his attempt over India.
Thwarted by lack of fuel, political bickering and gruelling high altitude conditions, Mr Fossett (52) in the British built Solo Spirit touched down in open fields in Bengal at 8.40 a.m.
But the millionaire securities trader had already shattered both endurance and distance records with his 145 hour voyage - easily outstripping previous assaults on what has become the last great aviation feat.
Mr Richard Branson, whose own hid ended in near tragedy earlier this month, said as many as five balloons could be in the air by next winter when the flag will go up on the next set of challenges.
Mr Fossett added more than 4,000 miles and over an hour to previous records using a low tech, compact vessel which cost less than a tenth that of Mr Branson's - Global Challenger.
Mr Fossett's challenge foundered when he was delayed by Libyan refusals to allow him to fly over the country's airspace. After setting off from St Louis, Missouri, he eclipsed his world distance record of 5,435 miles, which he set on a 1995 flight from Seoul, Korea to Canada.