Brazil Hot Air Balloon Crash: 8 Dead, 13 Injured
- RIO DE JANEIRO - A hot air balloon accident in Praia Grande, Brazil, resulted in the deaths of eight people on Saturday.
- Video footage showed smoke billowing from the burning balloon as it fell. Social media posts depicted some passengers falling from the aircraft as the fire spread.
- Ulisses Gabriel, chief of Santa Catarina's civil police force, expressed his sorrow on X, stating that three victims were found embracing.
A devastating hot air balloon crash in Praia Grande, Brazil, claimed the lives of eight people. Fire engulfed the balloon, leading to its catastrophic descent in santa Catarina state. Thirteen individuals survived the tragedy, with reports confirming the pilot ordered passengers to jump. The examination focuses on the origin of the fire within the balloon’s basket. Police and authorities are currently on the scene. This tragedy adds to the concerns about hot air balloon safety after a separate incident occurred last last week as highlighted on News Directory 3. Authorities are now reviewing ballooning regulations. The once popular tourist area is now a site of mourning and examination. Discover what’s next as the investigation unfolds.
Eight Killed in Brazil Hot Air Balloon Tragedy
Updated June 22, 2025
RIO DE JANEIRO – A hot air balloon accident in Praia Grande, Brazil, resulted in the deaths of eight people on Saturday. The balloon caught fire before plummeting to the ground in Santa Catarina state, according to firefighters.
Video footage showed smoke billowing from the burning balloon as it fell. Social media posts depicted some passengers falling from the aircraft as the fire spread.
Ulisses Gabriel, chief of Santa Catarina’s civil police force, expressed his sorrow on X, stating that three victims were found embracing. “It hurts the soul,” Gabriel said.
Thirteen people survived the hot air balloon tragedy and were transported to area hospitals, according to the Santa Catarina military fire brigade. The agency reported 21 people, including the pilot, were aboard the balloon.
Gov.Jorginho Mello addressed the tragedy in a video posted on X. “We are in mourning,” Mello said. “A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds,what happened,why it happened. But the vital thing now is for the state structure to do what it can.” He added that he directed authorities to provide rescue efforts, hospital care, and comfort to the families.
According to Praia Grande police chief Tiago Luiz Lemos, the pilot, a survivor, said the fire began inside the balloon’s basket. The pilot then attempted to lower the balloon and ordered passengers to jump when it was close to the ground, the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper reported.
“Some of them didn’t manage to jump,” Lemos said. “The fire increased and the balloon ended up falling.”
The hot air balloon flight was scheduled to last 45 minutes, reaching an altitude of 1,000 meters, with a cost of 550 reais (about $100) per passenger, G1 reported.
Praia Grande is a popular hot air balloon destination, especially during the June festivities celebrating Catholic saints.
Last Sunday, a separate balloon incident in Sao Paulo state resulted in one death and 11 injuries, G1 reported.
What’s next
Authorities are investigating the cause of the hot air balloon tragedy and reviewing safety regulations for hot air ballooning operations in the region.