Russian Priest Claims Hot Air Balloon Record

A Russian balloonist is claiming to have set a new record for flying solo non-stop around the world.

Fedor Konyukhov is said to have passed above the town of Northam in Western Australia, where he began his flight 11 days ago.

If it is confirmed, he will have beaten the previous record of 13 days and eight hours set by the late Steve Fossett in 2002.

Flight co-ordinator John Wallington said Mr Konyukhov landed safely in a field on a private property 100 miles east of Northam.

"He's landed, he's safe, he's sound, he's happy," Mr Wallington said.

"It's just amazing, it's fantastic - the record's broken, everyone's safe. It's all good," he added.

Fellow aviator Dick Smith, who was also at the landing, described the feat as "incredible".

"After going 34,000 kilometres (21,100 miles) around the world he crossed the runway where he took off from," Mr Smith said.

He added: "That's never happened before. It was mainly luck and it's just unbelievable."

During the journey the adventurer flew as high as 10,000 metres in his 56-metre-tall helium and hot air balloon and dealt with extreme temperatures as low as -56C.

On the last leg of the flight, Mr Konyukhov, a Russian Orthodox priest, was pushed south towards Antarctica as he crossed the southern ocean between Africa and Australia.

In one blog entry, he wrote: "It is scary to be so down south and away from civilisation.

"This place feels very lonely and remote just a thick layer of cyclonic clouds below me and dark horizon to the east."

The Swiss-based World Air Sports Federation has to confirm the record.