Story Archive

Sorry/Not Sorry

After being sentenced by a judge, Daniel Boria, 27, apologized for his dangerous actions, but said he doesn’t regret them. “I have the greatest story to tell for the rest of my life,” he said. He pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of an aircraft after tying over 100 helium balloons to a lawn chair, and flying over the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alta., Canada. “It is unknown what height he achieved, but there is an estimate of some 14,000 feet,” Judge Bruce Fraser said. “At some point a commercial aircraft, the offender called it a 747, passed underneath him.” Boria says he “understood the risks,” but, “if you don’t do anything, you won’t be in trouble but you won’t get anywhere, either.” Judge Fraser had a different perspective. “The stunt was unconscionably stupid,” he said. “There was nothing fantastic, fun or exhilarating about it as the offender was quoted describing it. It was dumb and dangerous.” Fraser was fined C$5,000, plus a $1,500 victim impact fee and a $20,000 donation to a local charity. But he was all smiles during a post-sentencing interview with reporters. “It’s pretty hard to take it seriously when you guys are asking me these questions based on me flying a lawn chair lifted by helium balloons.” (MS/Canadian Press) ...That would’ve made a pretty rainbow if it was sucked into a jet engine.