A hot-air balloon caught fire and plummeted to the ground in Santa Catarina, Brazil, on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of eight individuals, according to local firefighters.
Video footage from G1 captured the plume of smoke rising from the flaming balloon as it descended rapidly in the Praia Grande municipality. In another clip circulating on social media, two people were seen falling from the balloon as the fire spread.
There were 21 individuals aboard the balloon, including the pilot, with 13 surviving the incident and being transported to nearby hospitals, as reported by the military fire brigade of Santa Catarina.
The crash occurred around 8 a.m. local time, as Lt. Col. Zevir Cipriano Jr. explained. A fire ignited in the basket of the balloon, leading the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. While 13 people, including the pilot, managed to escape, eight passengers could not exit and subsequently perished. “These people ended up dying — four charred and another four jumped out of the balloon when it was falling,” Cipriano Jr. revealed.
The chief of Santa Catarina’s civil police force, Ulisses Gabriel, described the heartbreaking image of three victims who died in each other’s embrace, stating, “It hurts the soul.”
Governor Jorginho Mello expressed deep sorrow, saying, “We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can.”
In a show of solidarity, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva extended his condolences to the families of the victims, declaring the federal government’s support for local authorities and those affected.
The government has initiated an investigation into the incident, with Santa Catarina’s public safety secretary, Col. Flávio Graff, announcing that findings will be released within 30 days. According to Graff, the pilot has already provided a statement, and testimonies from survivors will also be gathered.
G1 reported that the balloon had an expected flight duration of 45 minutes, reaching an altitude of 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) and costing 550 reais (approximately $100) per passenger.
The company operating the balloon, Sobrevoar, stated it adhered to all safety regulations and had maintained a clean accident record until Saturday’s tragedy. In their statement, they emphasized their pilot’s extensive experience and efforts to ensure a safe flight, expressing sorrow for the incident. As a precaution, Sobrevoar has halted all operations indefinitely.
Praia Grande is a popular location for hot-air ballooning, renowned for its stunning canyon landscapes and often referred to as the “Brazilian Cappadocia,” in homage to the famous hot-air balloon rides in central Turkey. A week prior, another balloon accident in São Paulo state resulted in the death of a 27-year-old woman and injuries to 11 others, as reported by G1.