Balloon Crash Kills 8 and Injures 13 in Brazil

 

BY C STONE | STONE NEWS NETWORK ||| BRAZIL

In Praia Grande, Brazil, a hot air balloon crashed, killing 8 people and injuring 13. The hot air balloon caught fire, and was seen on video crashing to the earth. Passengers jumped from the flaming basket to escape, but unfortunately, some died.

According to AP:

The incident occurred on Saturday morning in Praia Grande, a popular hot air ballooning destination in the state of Santa Catarina, according to Jorginho Mello, the state's governor.

Mello, in a post on X, wrote that there were 21 total people on board the tourist flight, eight of whom have since been confirmed dead.

The state governor added that the 13 other passengers survived and that officials were continuing to monitor the situation.

An eyewitness told the local newspaper Jornal Razão that some passengers jumped to escape the blaze, following the pilot's orders.

The pilot reportedly attempted to descend quickly and instructed passengers to jump when the balloon neared the ground. Some managed to survive by jumping, while others were unable to escape in time.

Jornal Razão reported that the pilot attributed the fire to a backup torch inside the basket, which generated a spontaneous flame.

We don't suggest you watch the video, which is graphic.