In the days following a hot-air balloon crash in Texas that killed 16 people, several media outlets have questioned the role a small Iowa-based nonprofit took in fighting against stricter balloon safety regulations.

Documents uncovered by the Boston Herald and other news agencies found that the National Transportation Safety Board urged the Federal Aviation Administration two years ago to adopt stricter rules for balloon pilots. FAA refused, prompting a strong rebuke from NTSB, which said the agency was putting passenger safety at risk.

The Balloon Federation of America said before the FAA decision that the stricter rules were "unnecessary and burdensome." BFA is $473,000-revenue nonprofit in Indianola, Iowa, that represents balloon enthusiasts as well as industry players. http://bit.ly/2aDkpHh

In a statement on the group's website, BFA President Dean Carlton expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the crash. He also said his group would not comment on the specifics of the case because of the current NSTB investigation.

"Obviously we're still in shock and trying to process this," he said. "The BFA will fully cooperate with any investigative authority."

Carlton added that nothing is more important to BFA members than passenger safety.

"As pilots ourselves, we ask questions about safety every day," he said. "I would urge everyone to pause, take a deep breath and avoid speculation right now." http://bit.ly/2ap62JK

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