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A hot air balloon carrying 21 people caught fire mid-flight over Santa Catarina, Brazil, killing eight passengers. The rest—including the pilot—survived and were hospitalized following the horrific incident.
According to witnesses, the blaze ignited inside the basket. The pilot immediately tried to descend and urged people to jump while the balloon was close to the ground. Some passengers jumped, but others didn’t make it. Flames expanded, and because of the balloon’s heavy load, it began to rise again, before ultimately falling due to loss of lift.
Three victims were found holding onto each other at the time of their deaths, a heartbreaking detail that brought home the tragedy. Local authorities launched an investigation into the balloon’s condition and operations. The company operating it claimed to have followed regulations and said there had been no previous accidents.
Brazilian officials, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, expressed condolences to victims’ families and offered federal support to survivors. The tragedy has sparked widespread concern about the safety measures in aerial tourism.
