At least eight people have died after a hot-air balloon carrying 21 passengers caught fire mid-flight over southern Brazil, in what authorities have described as a tragic accident.
The incident occurred early Sunday near the coastal town of Praia Grande in Santa Catarina state. Santa Catarina governor Jorginho Mello confirmed the toll in a statement on X, writing: “Eight fatalities and 13 survivors.”
Dramatic footage captured by bystanders and aired on Brazilian television showed the balloon engulfed in flames, swinging violently before the passenger basket broke off and plummeted to the ground in flames. The weather was reported to be clear at the time of the disaster.
According to local fire officials, 13 people – including the pilot – miraculously survived and were taken to hospitals. Our Lady of Fatima hospital said five survivors were treated there; three remained in stable condition with minor injuries while two had already been discharged. Details on the other survivors were not immediately available.
An investigation is now underway to determine the cause of the fire. The pilot told local media that the blaze may have started with a blowtorch used in the basket. “I don’t know if it stayed lit or if it reignited on its own, but it was the torch that started it all,” he told Jornal Razao.
The pilot said he attempted an emergency landing as soon as the fire broke out and urged passengers to jump once they were close to the ground. “Once it was close to the ground, [the pilot] told the passengers to jump from the basket. But some of them couldn’t do it and the fire grew,” Tiago Luiz Lemos, a police official in Praia Grande, told reporters.
Fire department official Zevir Cipriano Junior said four victims died from burns and four others died from injuries sustained in the fall.
In a video statement, Governor Mello said: “We are in mourning. It’s a tragedy that happened. We will check the developments, what happened, and why it happened.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also expressed condolences and offered federal support for the rescue and recovery efforts.
Praia Grande, known for its scenic coastline, is a popular hotspot for hot-air ballooning. This is Brazil’s second fatal ballooning accident in under a week; just days earlier, a woman was killed during a flight in Sao Paulo state.
Authorities say investigations will focus on safety protocols and equipment standards in the ballooning industry.
Images: NBC / Youtube
