At least eight people died on Saturday morning after a hot air balloon crashed in the city of Praia Grande, in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. The accident occurred in the region of the Cachoeira do Bom Jesus community, where the balloon wreckage was found in a forested area.
According to authorities, 21 people were on board the aircraft, including the pilot. Initially, the Fire Department reported 22 occupants, but later corrected the information.
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Pilot attempted emergency landing
According to police chief Tiago Luiz Lemos, responsible for the Praia Grande police station, the pilot noticed the beginning of a fire in the basket of the balloon, allegedly caused by a burner, and attempted an emergency landing. During the maneuver, 13 passengers managed to jump from the balloon before the crash and survived.
Unfortunately, four victims jumped while the balloon was still at a high altitude and died from the impact of the fall. The other four were burned to death after failing to escape the basket in time. As the balloon became lighter after the jumps, it ascended again, making it harder for the remaining occupants to escape.
Investigation underway
The general chief of the Civil Police of Santa Catarina, Ulisses Gabriel, stated that the agency, in partnership with the state’s Forensic Police, will investigate the causes of the fire and the crash.
Videos recorded by witnesses and shared on social media show the moment the balloon fell. In the footage, you can see the canopy in flames and the basket detaching from the main structure as it plummets from a significant height.
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Images: X @rangelmachado87. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
