The true story behind ‘Trainwreck: Balloon Boy’
The Trainwreck anthology is a Netflix spell for disaster. But it’s not the kind of disaster viewers avert or take lessons from; it’s the type that leaves their eyes glued to the screens, mouths gaping in wonder, sparking an uncanny curiosity about when the next chapter comes out. So far, fans have loved Netflix’s eight-story expansion of the bizarre tales that left the world shocked. And this week, they are about to welcome the next chapter on the lineup, Trainwreck: Balloon Boy.
Produced by RAW and BBH, Trainwreck: Balloon Boy recounts a 16-year-old incident that subverts the idea that the sky’s the limit. The episode chronicles one of the most ridiculous headlines of 2009 when a father, Richard Heene from Fort Collins, Colorado, rang up 911 to report that his six-year-old son, Falcon Heene, was aboard a homemade flying saucer that mysteriously escaped their backyard.
As chaotic as it sounds, viewers were left shell-shocked, and the live-streaming chase sent everyone into a state of panic. Local media helicopters were tagging the saucer, capturing footage for the people watching nationwide, with the National Security, the Sheriff, and Homeland Security, each and every one on its tail. True to expectations, the Balloon Boy incident was incredibly sensationalised.
The entire country was on high alert, and needless to say, everyone had their fingers crossed for a miracle. But when the saucer touched down, what left the world perplexed was that no boy was found inside the saucer. Then what happened to the “Balloon Boy”?
The real story of Trainwreck: Balloon Boy
It turns out that Falcon Heene was hiding in plain sight, in his own house, while the drama played out on live TV. The nature of the incident compelled an investigation to take over. Ultimately, the investigation came to a consensus that the event might have been a false alarm. However, many claimed the family was to blame and it was all an act for social clout.
As per NBC News, Richard and Mayumi Heene pleaded guilty to the charges. However, eventually they claimed that the confession was made over the fear of deportation since his wife is a Japanese citizen.
Regardless, they both faced time in prison before Governor Polis pardoned them in 2020. Mayumi Heene was absolved of the misdemeanour charges and Richard, of his felony charges (via PEOPLE). Trainwreck: Balloon Boy on Netflix revisits the horrific day that left the American public in a terrible state of frenzy only to be revealed later as a hoax.
The episode features new interviews with members of the Heene family, including Richard Heene, who reportedly built the saucer, and his son, Falcon, who was believed to be aboard on it. The incident dates back to October 15th, 2009, and Netflix unveiled a trailer last month in which the father could be heard saying, “All I wanted to do was make a really fantastic project for the kids.”
Trainwreck: Balloon Boy also comprises interviews of those in defence and opposition of the Heene family. And since the story is being told the first time in the documentary, you just cannot risk to miss. Trainwreck: Balloon Boy premieres on Tuesday, July 15th, 2025, on Netflix.