By 3 News online staff
Warning: Photo gallery contains images which may disturb
Graphic images of a hot air balloon which caught fire near Carterton in 2012 killing all 11 people on board have been released after an appeal to keep them from publication was abandoned.
Coroner Peter Ryan released four photos taken of the incident by professional photographer Geoff Walker today.
Mr Walker had fought against their publication in the High Court partly on the basis of copyright, but the families of some victims believed there was merit in the public seeing them.
At the time, Mr Walker told 3 News he did not see any purpose in the photos being released.
Mr Ryan originally suppressed all images during an inquest into the deaths last year, but later decided to release four images to media.
Today Mr Walker said he dropped the court action because the decision was likely to have ended up back with the coroner, who has already allowed the photos' release.
He had no regrets about taking the case and says he would do the same thing again.
Mr Walker took 677 photos of the flight which were given to police as evidence.
Allan Still, whose daughter Alexis died in the crash, says while the family wasn't looking forward to seeing the photos released, he believes it will show the public the dangers of ballooning.
Balloon pilot Lance Hopping's hot air balloon hit power lines on January 7, 2012 during a scenic early morning flight in what has been called the worst aviation disaster in more than 30 years.
A coroner's court heard Mr Hopping was a chronic cannabis user and post-mortem blood tests showed he had THC – an active ingredient in cannabis – in his system on the day of the flight.
The embargo lifted at 5pm.
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