‘The Whole Story Was Not Told’

LITTLE FALCON HEENE FAMOUSLY DID NOT FLY AWAY IN A HOMEMADE FLYING SAUCER. SO WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?

- JOHNNY DODD

The passage of time can do funny things to the human mind—as Falcon Heene well knows. For a few days in October 2009, then 6-year-old Falcon was the focus of national attention as millions stared in disbelief at their TVs, convinced he was adrift as high as 1.3 miles above Colorado after scampering into a saucer-shaped helium balloon built by his dad that had floated out of the family's backyard.

The Heene Family Today "We love it here," says Richard (far right, with, from left, Falcon, Bradford, Ryo and Mayumi in Florida in 2025).

“Most of the stuff I remember is just from videos I’ve watched of it,” says the now 22-year-old Falcon from the three-acre compound where he lives with his parents and brothers in rural central Florida. “It’s all kind of foggy.”

As it turned out Falcon—who quickly became known as the “balloon boy”—was never in the homemade craft, which vaguely resembled a giant Jiffy Pop container. And shortly after it landed in a field more than two hours after takeoff and nearly 70 miles from the family’s home in Fort Collins, Colo., the world learned the little boy had been asleep in the attic the whole time, unseen by the law enforcement officers tasked with searching the property.