A tragic hot air balloon accident in Brazil has left eight people dead after a fire broke out mid-flight, sending the balloon plummeting to the ground.
On Saturday, June 21, a balloon carrying 21 people, including the pilot, caught fire in the sky over Santa Catarina, Brazil. Horrifying footage shared by a local news outlet and obtained by TMZ shows the balloon engulfed in flames as it spirals downward toward a rural area near a health center. Local officials report that four of the victims died from burns while in the basket, while the remaining four died from the fall.
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Shocking videos captured the chaotic moments before impact, with one person reportedly jumping from the balloon in a desperate attempt to escape the fire. The aftermath of the crash left 13 people, including the pilot, injured, though several survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals.
The pilot of the balloon, who survived, mentioned to a local outlet malfunction might have sparked the fire, though details remain unclear. “I don’t know if it stayed lit or if it reignited on its own, but it was the torch that started it all,” he stated, per The Independent.
The investigation into the incident is underway, with results expected in 30 days. Meanwhile, the company operating the balloon, Sobrevoar, confirmed that it held the required licenses for the flight.
