A hot-air balloon ride in Brazil ended in tragedy on Saturday morning when the aircraft caught fire and crashed in the southern state of Santa Catarina.
Video of Brazil hot air balloon crash goes viral
According to reports, the incident left at least eight people dead and 13 others injured, according to local emergency officials. The balloon was flying near the town of Praia Grande, a location known for hot-air balloon tours.
The fire reportedly started in the balloon’s basket — the part where passengers stand. Authorities said the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing as the fire grew.
Video shared on social media shows thick black smoke rising from the falling balloon, which then crashes in a wooded area.
According to the Santa Catarina Military Fire Brigade, the pilot and 20 passengers were onboard at the time of the accident. Some passengers survived by jumping out when the fire first broke out.
After the balloon lost several passengers mid-air, it briefly began rising again before falling sharply.
“Four victims were burned to death, and another four died after jumping out of the balloon while it was falling,” said Lt. Col. Zevir Cipriano Jr., who spoke about the rescue operation.
The survivors, including the pilot, were taken to local hospitals. Their conditions have not yet been disclosed.
Santa Catarina’s governor, Jorginho Mello, released a video statement expressing his condolences.
“We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened,” he said, adding that all available state resources would be mobilized to support the victims and their families.
Chief of Civil Police Ulisses Gabriel confirmed on social media that three of the victims were found hugging each other. “It hurts the soul,” he wrote.
The hot-air balloon tour, offered by the company Sobrevoar Serviços Turísticos, was expected to last about 45 minutes and reach an altitude of around 3,280 feet.
Each ticket reportedly cost $100 (est. R1,808). It is not yet clear what altitude the balloon had reached when the fire started.
In a statement posted online, Sobrevoar said:
“Despite all necessary precautions and the efforts of our pilot — who has extensive experience and followed all recommended procedures in an attempt to save everyone on board the balloon — we are suffering from the pain caused by this tragedy.”
The company added that it had a clean safety record before this accident and complied with all regulations set by Brazil’s civil aviation agency, ANAC. All operations have been suspended indefinitely.
Sobrevoar also asked the public not to share misinformation online, stating that doing so would cause further distress to the victims’ families.
This incident follows another recent balloon accident in Brazil. Just one week earlier, a hot-air balloon crashed in the state of São Paulo, killing one woman and injuring 11 others.
Authorities in Santa Catarina have launched a full investigation into Saturday’s crash.