Katie Couric's Notebook: Balloon Boy

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

His name is Falcon and for a couple of hours yesterday, we thought he was soaring - eight-thousand feet in the air.

Millions watched in helpless horror as a helium balloon bobbed and weaved in the wind after breaking loose from a tether in his parents' yard.

As one side of the silver saucer began to deflate, you couldn't help but think - this is not going to end well.

But then it landed softly and empty. Turns out Falcon Heene wasn't in the air. He was in the rafters, hiding in the garage the entire time.

And today, a little miracle has turned into a mystery. Did his parents -- who have appeared on the reality show Wife Swap -- somehow stage the whole thing?

They say they didn't. And it's hard to imagine anyone would go to those heights - and put friends and neighbors in such distress - just for a little publicity.

The good news is that Falcon is safe and on the ground. But what really happened, in one of the strangest stories of the year, remains up in the air.

That's a page from my notebook.
I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

7 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment


by JayAdlerMusic October 21, 2009 2:57 AM EDT: Obviously, if this case is brought to prosecution, the ultimate resolution will reveal what happens to the father, an actor and possibly the mother if she is cited as a co-conspirator although she could be provided with a flip deal. The gentleman has been noted as someone rather aggressively seeking either publicity, self aggrandizement or possibly the engineer of a plan to create an eventual television realty series. I do not like the toddler being capable of yielding valid and credible testimony. Historically speaking, it is never good going before a judge and threaded even hypothetically with a 2 million government tab which relates to the rescue attempts and for now payable by the various agencies involved. Look, everybody is entitled to their due process and innocent until proven guilty. I do not know of any court dates set. There is no business like show business ( Ethel Merman).; Reply to this comment


by reader54 October 18, 2009 12:37 PM EDT: What a poorly written "notebook." Was it done by an intern?; Reply to this comment


by casey_abbott October 18, 2009 11:59 AM EDT: I'm most impressed, indeed.; Reply to this comment


by theonewluv October 17, 2009 6:01 PM EDT: I am so glad I missed the whole thing. When I actually saw the local News on WCBS New York, it all looked improbable. On the Early Show ( I watch CBS only- even without Walter C. it's my most trusted )that kid was not very happy to be there!We all know the rest, family and all---; Reply to this comment


by petersemkiw October 17, 2009 1:32 PM EDT: What a wonderful and joyous conclusion to this alarming, heart wrenching, sky high story that took place yesterday afternoon !

And, in a few moments, you will go through Power Placement, and your own heroic journey will begin.; Reply to this comment


by casey_abbott October 17, 2009 11:39 AM EDT: I thought you were a sidekick.; Reply to this comment


by dietHansens October 16, 2009 8:40 PM EDT: Is anyone going to further investigate this? Nothing new has been revealed since the boy's accidental confession. Isn't anyone angry about this charade?; Reply to this comment