Third balloon tragedy in Brazil in just ONE WEEK as 21 tourists celebrate June festivities in popular canyon region
Eight people were killed and 13 injured when a hot air balloon erupted into flames and crashed in southern Brazil on Saturday morning – with horrifying footage showing passengers falling from the burning basket as it plummeted to earth.
The tragedy unfolded in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina state, a tourist hotspot famous for its canyon views, as 21 people including the pilot took what should have been a scenic 45-minute flight costing around $100 per person.
Shocking video circulating on social media captured the moment the balloon caught fire mid-flight, with two people seen falling through the air as flames engulfed the basket before it crashed into a forest area.
‘We Are in Mourning’
Santa Catarina Governor Jorginho Mello confirmed the devastating toll on social media, writing: “We are all shocked by the accident involving a balloon in Praia Grande, this Saturday morning. Our rescue team is already on site… So far, we have confirmed eight deaths.”
The governor initially reported that two survivors had been rescued alive, though the military fire brigade later confirmed 13 people survived and were rushed to nearby hospitals.
“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,” Mello said in a video statement.
Pilot’s Desperate Attempts to Save Passengers
According to the pilot, who is one of the survivors, a fire started inside the basket and then he began to lower the balloon. When the balloon was very close to the ground, he ordered people to jump out of the basket, Praia Grande head police officer Tiago Luiz Lemos told Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.
Some of them didn’t manage to jump. The fire increased and the balloon ended up falling, Lemos added, describing the horrific final moments.
An eyewitness told local media outlet Jornal Razão: We saw two people fall from above, and soon after the basket broke, and the balloon fell.
The witness rushed to the crash site where she found a woman covered in mud and in a state of shock, and a man with her who was limping, along with two bodies.
Popular Tourist Destination
Praia Grande is renowned for its hot air balloon rides, offering spectacular views of the region’s dramatic canyons. The Santa Catarina government estimates that 25 to 30 hot-air balloons depart daily from Praia Grande in peak season, with most of them having capacity to transport as many as 25 people.
The balloon rides are particularly popular during June festivities celebrating Catholic saints including Saint John, whose feast day falls on June 24.
G1 reported the balloon’s expected flight time was 45 minutes, reaching heights of 1,000 meters (3,280 feet), with tickets priced at 550 reais (approximately $100) per passenger.
Third Tragedy in a Week
Saturday’s disaster marks the third hot air balloon accident in Brazil in less than a week, raising serious safety concerns about the popular tourist activity.
Last Sunday, a balloon carrying 35 people – which did not have authorization to fly – fell in São Paulo. One person died and the pilot was arrested.
The victim in that crash was identified as 27-year-old Juliana Alves Prado Pereira, a newlywed psychologist who was on a belated Valentine’s Day trip with her husband. Reports suggest she may have been pregnant at the time of the accident.
Last Thursday, another balloon fell on the coast of São Paulo, although no serious damage was caused and no homes were hit.
President Offers Condolences
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed solidarity with the families of the victims in a post on X (formerly Twitter), with the federal government offering support to local authorities.
A spokesperson for the fire department told CNN Brasil that none of the 13 survivors were believed to have life-threatening injuries.
The cause of the fire that led to Saturday’s crash remains under investigation, with authorities working to determine what sparked the deadly blaze that turned a tourist excursion into a nightmare.
Emergency services remained at the scene throughout Saturday, with rescue workers searching the crash site as families awaited news of their loved ones.
The string of accidents has prompted calls for stricter safety regulations for Brazil’s hot air balloon industry, particularly during the busy June festival season when demand for scenic flights peaks.
