Brazil. A tragedy that occurred this Saturday, June 21, in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, has shocked the country. A hot air balloon carrying 21 people caught fire and crashed to the ground, killing eight people and injuring 13.
Videos of the moment of impact show how the basket carrying the passengers burst into flames and separated from the balloon before falling.
According to the Civil Police, based on the statement of the pilot, one of the survivors, the fire started in the basket, possibly from a blowtorch. The National Civil Aviation Agency is investigating the incident.
Of those who lost their lives, four died inside the basket from burns, and another four from falling from the height. The names of the deceased and those injured have not yet been released.
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were optimal. The pilot told the Civil Police that, during the emergency, the burning balloon managed to descend close to the ground, at which point the passengers were ordered to jump out.
Although most managed to disembark, the balloon, which was lightened, quickly rose. The flames consumed the structure, causing it to collapse along with the people who hadn’t disembarked.
The burning basket crashed at high speed on the side of Highway SC-108, in a rural area near a health center. The 13 survivors were transported to nearby hospitals by the Fire Department and the Emergency Medical Services (SAMU).
Nossa Senhora de Fátima Hospital in downtown Praia Grande launched a special operation and confirmed that five of the survivors remain hospitalized for observation, suffering from minor burns, bruises, and body aches, but no fractures or serious internal injuries.
The company involved in the accident, Sobrevoar, operates hot air balloons in Praia Grande, and according to G1, the vehicle had the necessary licenses to fly.
The governor of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello, currently on an official mission in Japan, lamented the tragedy and created a task force to assist the victims and investigate the accident.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also expressed his solidarity with the families and victims, offering the support of the Federal Government.
This is the second fatal incident involving a hot air balloon in Brazil in less than a week, raising concerns about the safety of this tourist activity.
Praia Grande, known as the “Brazilian Cappadocia,” is a major hot-air ballooning destination, with dozens of accredited companies and more than 7,000 landings and takeoffs per month, underscoring the urgency of uncovering the causes of these incidents.
