Two American balloonists are missing in Europe. According to an Associated Press report, the men are identified as Richard Abruzzo and Carol Rymer Davis and they were participating in the 54th Gordon Bennett Gas Balloon Race.

According to CNN, the "20-balloon race began Saturday night near Bristol, England, with pilots vying to fly the farthest from the start point."


Many of the balloons in the competition chose a route to soar over the English Channel and continued south across France, but others went another route and ventured over Mediterranean.

The American chose the latter route.


Officials have revealed that the last signal received from the balloon's GPS was at 8 a.m. local time Wednesday. The signal showed the craft was 13 miles (21 kilometers) off the Gargano coast in the Adriatic Sea.

The worst is feared.

Flight director Don Cameron said he received information Friday from Zagreb's air traffic control indicating the balloon descent was likely too fast for survival.