11.   Balloon director Noble said it was hoped the balloon would cross over North Africa and land in Egypt.

12.   But because of diversions around Mediterranean storms and Iraq, the balloon crossed the Himalayas further north than planned.

13.   The expected flight path should see the balloon slowly cross the Alps and Italy before crossing the Mediterranean Sea and accelerating toward Israel, according to weather predictions overnight.

14.   The ground crew said that the balloon might cross into North America at Washington State or southern Canada.

15.   The Pacific had been crossed by balloon only twice before.

16.   The Pacific had only been crossed by balloon twice before and never solo.

17.   The two were whisked away by Belarussian police on Tuesday after their balloon crossed the Polish border and landed near the city of Grodno.

18.   Two other Americans were whisked away by Belarussian police on Tuesday after their balloon crossed the Polish border and landed near the city of Grodno.

19.   Only two balloons have crossed the Pacific but no solo pilots have ever succeeded.