Terror in the skies: The shocking moment a hot air balloon strikes power lines and bursts into flames, killing all 10 tourists and the pilot

Eleven people were killed in the disaster in Carterton, New Zealand in 2012 

The images were amongst 600 taken by local photographer Geoff Walker

They were used as evidence in the coronal inquiry into the tragedy 

Local media and the families of the victims argued that they should be made public to prevent further tragedies

'You can read about the accident, but when you see it in action, it brings it home,' the father of one of the victims said

A shocking series of images that show the moment a hot air balloon collided with power lines and burst into flames, killing the 11 people on board, have been released to the public.

Considered one of New Zealand's worst air disasters, the Carterton balloon tragedy occurred almost three years ago, however photographs of the disaster have only just been made available in the name of 'public interest' following a lengthy court battle with the photographer, TVNZ reports.

The graphic images, only a few of the 600 taken of the incident by Geoff Walker, document the precise moment the balloon struck a set of power lines and instantly burst into flames.

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The images of the Carterton balloon tragedy, taken by local photographer Geoff Walker, were used as evidence in the coroners inquest 

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Drifting away from the point of contact, black smoke is shown billowing from the basket which appears to be completely engulfed in flames after hitting the power lines 

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The shrivelled and burnt balloon is swallowed by the surrounding plumes as it plummets to the ground, while the basket is unrecognisable behind the inferno

Drifting away from the point of contact, black smoke is shown billowing from the basket which appears to be completely engulfed in flames in the second image.

In the final and most disturbing photo, a shrivelled and burnt balloon is swallowed by the surrounding plumes as it plummets to the ground, while the basket is unrecognisable behind the inferno.

Initially all of the images, which were submitted as evidence for the public inquest into the disaster, had been banned from public release due to their sensitive nature.

However after requests from local media and the families of the victims, the coroner in charge of the case, Peter Ryan, authorised the public release of four.