Bobenheim-Roxheim, Germany - A 46-year-old German woman was killed in a fall during an emergency landing of a hot-air balloon, police said Saturday.

After the balloon, which was carrying six women and a pilot, made its landing Friday night in a field near Bobenheim-Roxheim in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the passengers began to exit its gondola one after the other, which caused the balloon once again to ascend, police said.

One of the women still on board fell from a height of 2 metres and suffered minor injuries. Another woman who was hanging from the basket fell from at least 10 metres and died.

Police said they did not know why the balloon made an emergency landing but an initial investigation indicated a technical malfunction was not responsible. (dpa)