Harrowing details have emerged after a man plummeted to his death from a hot-air balloon in suburban Melbourne.

Emergency services were called to Albert Street in Preston, in Melbourne’s north, early on Monday after the discovery of the body of a man who police believe had been a passenger in a balloon.

Neighbours have described hearing a “loud bang” before the sound of sirens filled the quiet street. Electricity was also cut to some houses, while there were reports of building damage.

“I actually only heard the sirens, a lot of them” one man told Nine’s Today show.

“My brother heard like a loud bang, almost like something like a large item falling in your house. And it wasn’t until we heard all the sirens that we came out.”

The balloon landed safely at Yarra Bend Park, about eight kilometres from where the man’s body was found.

Police were speaking with other occupants of the balloon and witnesses to determine what happened.

There are multiple reports that passengers on other balloons across Melbourne heard radio mayday calls just a few minutes into their flights.

Melbourne has several companies that offer sunrise flights across the city. The balloons are believed to each have capacity for 16 passengers.

The National Commercial Hot Air Ballooning Industry and the Australian Ballooning Federation issued a statement after one company, BalloonMan, was asked for comment. It offered condolences to the man’s loved ones.

“Hot-air balloon baskets are designed with safety in mind, specifically to prevent passengers from falling out accidentally or from any accidental exit,” the statement read.

“Passengers and the pilot are understandably traumatised by this tragedy and the operator is arranging psychological support and counselling for all affected.”

The hot air balloon took off from CT Barling Reserve, Reservoir – the suburb immediately north of Preston – at 7am. The man fell soon after.

The matter is also being investigated by WorkSafe Victoria, the Air Transport Safety Bureau and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Emergency landings of hot-air balloons are not uncommon in Melbourne.

In April 2022, a hot-air balloon on its maiden flight with 13 passengers and a pilot on board was forced to land among buildings in Elwood, in Melbourne’s south-east.

Three people suffered minor injuries.

Another two people were injured on New Year’s Eve in 2021 during a hard landing in a field near Lilydale, east of Melbourne, in which the balloon’s basket was dragged 30 metres.

A fuel leak also sparked a fire on a hot air balloon flying over Victoria on Boxing Day in 2018, with one of its 15 passengers cutting their hand after the basket landed in trees.

A report into Monday’s incident will be prepared for the coroner. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

Albert Street remained closed between Wood Street and Murray Road, with traffic diversions. VicTraffic has urged drivers to avoid the area where possible.

Lifeline 131 114

beyondblue 1300 224 636

-with AAP