If confirmed, that would break the 2002 record held by USA businessman Steve Fossett, the first person to fly solo around the world in a balloon.
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Russian adventurer Fedor Konyukhov is seen in front of his balloon as it is inflated before the start of his record attempt for a solo hot-air balloon flight around the globe near Perth, Australia, in this handout image received July 12, 2016.
According to abc.net.au, Konyukhov had set off from Western Australia’s Avon Valley on July 12.
His journey of more than 34,000 kilometers (21,100 miles) took him through a thunder storm in the Antarctic Circle, where temperatures outside the gondola fell to minus-50 degrees Celsius (minus-58 Fahrenheit).
In officially completing the epic journey, Konyukhov flew directly over Northam, a feat described as “incredible” by good friend and fellow aviator Dick Smith.
His crew said the balloon, which is 56m (183ft) tall and uses helium and hot air, covered the route in 11 days and six hours, beating Fossett’s record by more than two days.
His capsuled tumbled along the ground for 15 minutes after he landed on a cattle station in southwest Queensland state.
“He’s landed, he’s safe, he’s sound, he’s happy”, Mr Wallington said.
The Swiss-based World Air Sports Federation has yet to confirm a new record.
The 65-year old Russian adventurer will touch back down to Earth later today.
Wallington said the last 24 hours of the trip had been uneventful for the experienced Russian expeditioner but joked that “the previous 10 days have been awful”. “It should be a reasonable sort of day to hopefully get him on the ground later this afternoon”.
Fossett was the only other person to circumnavigate the world in a hot air balloon, which he completed in 13-and-a-half days.
Landing the 1.8-ton balloon could be the most challenging and unsafe part of the journey, with late afternoon the best time, Wellington said.
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He will expect to be dragged along the ground for several kilometers (miles) before coming to a halt.
