Accidents and Injuries (TheCreativeCanadian's Version)

Even though the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a sight to be seen, sometimes things don't go according to plan, and even change the parade. Here are some mishaps from the parade throughout the years, including balloon deflation and injuries, not counting arrests, protests, shootings and police involvement.

## 20th Century

### 1941

* The Santa Claus balloon suffered damage and collapsed on route.

### 1964

* The Sinclair Oil's Dinosaur's neck was punctured by a lamppost at Central Park West, causing the balloon to spring a leak and be flown at a lower altitude. In spite of the accident, the balloon was able to complete its flight to 34th Street.

### 1970

* The Pink Panther's tail was punctured, as was his right hand and innertube.

### 1971

* Smokey Bear's hat was damaged after inflation, and it was so badly damaged that it required parcel replacement.
* During inflation, a Goodyear worker stepped on the Spider-Man balloon's left hand, causing it to deflate. It would be re-inflated later on.
* Snoopy was wrapped around the cab of a helium truck due to the high winds.
* For the first time ever in Parade history, all of the the giant balloons were grounded as a result of heavy rain and winds.

### 1980

* Flash Gordon's right hand was punctured by a streetlight.

### 1981

* Big Bird's tail was deflated.
* A gust of wind blew Flash Gordon into one of Macy's windows, but he escaped.

### 1982

* Superman experienced punctures in his head and leg, but he was repaired.

### 1984

* Garfield's left paw was deflated after colliding with a Central Park tree.

### 1985

* Big Bird and Kermit the Frog's stomachs were all torn by Central Park trees, causing both of them to be flown lower than usual to hide the damages.
* Superman suffered damages before the Parade began and Was unable to be repaired in time.

### 1986

* Garfield's right paw and left-back paw were punctured.

### 1987

* Kermit the Frog's right arm was ripped by a tree.

### 1988

* Quik Bunny brushed trees at 77th Street, causing his right foot to lose a small amount of helium.

### 1990

* Due to the faulty stitching, Bart Simpson was deflated the night before the parade started, but was repaired in time for his first march down Broadway.

### 1991

* Happy Dragon began loosing helium before the Parade began, however balloon technicians were able to fix the problem in a matter of minutes.
* Yogi Bear's right hand was ripped by a Central Park tree.
* Kermit the Frog collided with a tree in Central Park West, and his head was deflated. Despite the accident, he continued on the rest of the route headless and was retired after that year.
* Underdog's right hand was deflated, likely due to the balloon's old age.
* Captain Planet almost collided with a streetlight at Times Square.
* Quik Bunny veered towards a lamppost, tearing his left drumstick and hand open.

### 1992

* Captain Planet's right hand was ripped off by trees.
* One of the ABC Bouncing Balls was deflated, likely from a lamppost, and was lowered to the ground for the rest of the Parade.

### 1993

* Sonic the Hedgehog lost a spike and punctured his left arm before crashing into a lamppost at Columbus Circle, injuring both a 10-year old girl and an off-duty police officer. Additionally, a woman was overwhelmed with helium fumes. All three were treated at the scene, and the Sonic balloon was removed from the line of march.
* While turning from 77th Street to Central Park West, Quik Bunny's left ear was punctured by a tree and deflated. The balloon suffered further damages in Times Square, when the balloon's hat was torn open. In spite of the extensive damages, the balloon continued to fly until being removed at 36th Street, shortly before his broadcast appearance on NBC.
* Santa Goofy almost collided with a lamppost at an unknown location.

### 1994

* Barney's left leg was torn by a tree along Central Park West. Additionally, A lamppost tore his side shortly after his NBC appearance.

### 1995

* Sky Dancer's face was punctured by Central Park trees.
* Sonic the Hedgehog managed to snag on a tree and his face was punctured. By the time the balloon reached Times Square, his head lost a lot of helium, and due to this, he was removed.

### 1997

* This was the second time in Parade history that all of the the giant balloons were grounded as a result of heavy winds.

### 1998

* Dexter's right rocket was deflated during his debut march.
* Mere minutes after the Sonic the Hedgehog balloon started its march, the balloon was pulled from the lineup because of his head being ripped open by a tree.

## 21st Century

### 2001

* Ronald McDonald had its left arm torn open after colliding with some Central Park trees.

### 2004

* SpongeBob SquarePants was snagged by a lamppost at Times Square but was freed.
* On the NBC telecast, Al Roker was nearly taken out by one of SpongeBobs shoes.
* Tooey had deflated randomly near the starting line, but was re-inflated and made rest of the route just fine.
* Garfield suffered damage from his left paw after being snagged by a tree.

### 2005

* "Strike Up the Band" Barney was nearly blown away, and had his foot torn open at 77th Street.
* SpongeBob SquarePants once again snagged a lamppost and was freed.
* The M&M's-sponsored Red and Yellow Brighten the Holidays balloon had a handling line catch on a lamppost, causing the fixture to fall into the crowd below. The acorn-shaped light hit two sisters who were treated and released at the hospital the same day.

### 2006

* SpongeBob SquarePants once again snagged a lamppost and was freed.

### 2008

* Keith Haring's "Figure with Heart" hit the NBC broadcast booth, startling the hosts but not causing any damage.

### 2010

* Wiggle Worm was punctured by a "ONE WAY" sign while its handlers attempted to do a spin maneuver.
* SpongeBob SquarePants once again snagged a lamp post and was freed.
* The Kool-Aid Man and Energizer Bunny balloonicles experienced technical difficulties before their scheduled appearances, and were sidelined until they were fixed.
* The Blue Holiday Ornament and the Red Holiday Ornament balloonicles both deflated and were unable to be fixed in time, resulting in their removal.

### 2011

* One of Ronald McDonald's ice skates was pierced by a tree at 77th Street and was deflated.

### 2012

* Inflation errors caused Uncle Sam to be deflated, with the balloon being removed at 42nd Street due to aesthetic purposes.
* Pikachu's ears were over-inflated, and subsequently burst after the helium inside expanded.
* A sandbag holding down the Ronald McDonald balloon caused its hair to deflate. Balloon technicians taped up the hole, with a miniscule amount of helium remaining inside the hair chamber.

### 2013

* Sonic the Hedgehog ran into a lamppost at 6th Avenue resulting in his removal.
* Spider-Man had his left arm deflated after impacting a tree along Central Park near the beginning of the parade resulting in his removal.

### 2017

* The Red & Green Candy Cane was punctured and deflated by a tree near the start of the Parade and was removed.

### 2018

#### Balloonfest

* Fleck, Bjorn & Jojo could not begin their test flights due to heavy winds, and were instead kept in place for media personnel to photograph them. Hugg, on the other hand, was not present.
* Goku knocked into a balloon handler while being lowered, causing hospitalization.

#### Main Parade

* The Pilgrim Man balloonhead left the Parade at Central Park South after losing helium in its head, and the Pilgrim Woman was removed at 34th Street.
* Greg was impaled by a lamppost resulting in his removal from the parade.
* Thomas the Tank Engine came in contact with a lamppost at 6th Avenue, causing a massive tear in its side, resulting in the balloon's removal.
* One of the Red Believe Stars did not make it to 34th Street, as a gust of wind blew it into the pilar of the Santa's Sleigh float, causing the side to be punctured.

### 2019

* The Red Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger was blown into a lamppost causing major damage to his leg. He was removed and retired because of it.
* Chase from PAW Patrol encountered a lamppost on 6th Avenue. His side was torn and he was removed.
* Goku was caught in a gust of wind, causing a female balloon handler to injure her shoulder. Additionally, an older woman fell down, while another male handler tripped over a plastic bag. Neither handlers sustained any injuries.
* Later on, Goku would hit a lamppost on Columbus Circle, causing major damage to his arm. His stomach would later be torn, and he was removed from the lineup.
* Before the parade started, Ronald McDonald's right shoe developed a tear. The balloon struggled to complete the rest the route as the tear was getting larger, and was removed at 42nd Street, only ten blocks before its NBC appearance.
* Thomas the Tank Engine's side was ripped by Central Park trees resulting in the balloon's second removal in a row, resulting in Thomas' retirement.
* A large gust of wind sent the front part of Wiggle Worm into the air, causing his handlers to loose grip of their handling bones. The handlers were able to regain control of the balloon shortly after, and the Wiggle Worm balloon was lowered to the ground as a result.
* The overnight wind gusts caused Yayoi Kusama's "Love Flies Up to the Sky" to be shoved into a portable restroom trailer and a few ATM machines, causing its face to get punctured. Additionally, one of its tentacles was ripped open by a subway map kiosk.
* The Trolls Balloon got out of control once it reached 6th Avenue. As of result, the balloon was ripped and shredded by a lamppost and was removed from the line of march
* One of the Blue & White Macy's Stars escaped from the staging area and was torn apart after hitting a generator.
* The Pillsbury Doughboy balloon hit a lamppost. His stomach burst open, resulting in his removal.
* One of the Gold Macy's Starflakes also escaped from the staging area, flying across the street until finally bursting after making contact with a building.
* The Nutcracker was whipped about along Central Park West. The balloon eventually lurched forward, knocking a female handler down, who approached the balloon in an attempt to stabilize it. The handler was able to get back up with no known injuries, and the Nutcracker balloon wasn't damaged.
* Later on, the Nutcracker would hit a lamppost on 6th Avenue and would be removed.
* None of the Balloonheads could appear at all due to weather concerns.

### 2022

* One of the Pillsbury Doughboy's handler strings was caught in a tree at the parade's starting line, and although it was hard, the balloon was freed with help from NYC officers.
* The Striker, the U.S. Soccer Star balloonicle broke down shortly after reaching 6th Avenue, and had to be supported by its escorts for the rest of the route.

### 2023

#### BalloonFest

* Moments after beginning his test flight, Po’s right hand sprung a leak and deflated. Despite this, the balloon was able to continue its test flight without any further mishaps.

#### Main Parade

* Trees led to the brim on Beagle Scout Snoopy's hat being shredded and partially deflated. The tear appears in the center of Snoopy’s hat towards the right.
* One of the Go Bowling shoe cars broke down near the beginning of the route and was sidelined. However, it was soon repaired and rejoined the route, but was unable to catch up with the rest of the unit.
* Near the beginning of the route, Greg Heffley's left hand was ripped. Greg was able to continue along the parade route successfully.
* Near the beginning of the route, a gust of wind blew Monkey D. Luffy into a tree branch, ripping open Luffy's straw hat brim. At the same time, Luffy swayed against a lamppost, almost popping his right hand. The multiple videos currently circulate of the incident, being considered "the most notable tear since 1997”.
* During the the balloon inflation, Goku's hair sprung a leak and was deflated. His hair was unable to be repaired, but he still made it down the route successfully, despite almost getting his hand caught in trees at Central Park West.