Tragic Accident in Santa Catarina
On 21 June 2025, a hot Deadly Hot-Air Balloon carrying 21 people caught fire in p4ru honor the middle of the day and crashed in Praia Grande in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, killing eight and injuring 13 passengers and the pilot. The Santa Catarina military fire brigade confirmed the accident and said survivors were taken to hospitals with prompt medical attention closer to the area. nypost.comen.wikipedia.org+15apnews.com+15timesunion.com+15.
The Incident: Flames and Chaos in the Skies
Video of the balloon, on fire and sending up thick clouds of smoke as it fell to the ground, was shot by local media outlet G1 and circulated online. The balloon’s basket separated, and at least two people fell as the balloon descended. “It hurts the soul,” said Governor Jorginho Mello, whose state was reeling from the deaths of three victims who died holding each other, the impact of which he described as “devastation.” indiatoday.in+8apnews.com+8timesunion.com+8.
Pilot’s Testimony and Emergency Response
Officials say the pilot—who is alive—said that a fire broke out in the basket, probably started by the balloon’s blowtorch or propane setup. He tried to make an emergency landing and told passengers to jump when they were close to the ground. A lot of them did get out and survive, but some didn’t have enough time to get out and fell along with the basket. apnews.com+2thesun.co.uk+2halifax.citynews.ca+2.
Casualties and Rescues
- Total onboard: 21
- Fatalities: 8 (four in the flaming basket, four after the fall) spectrumlocalnews.com+13thesun.co.uk+13the-independent.com+13
- Survivors requiring treatment: 13 (all recovered and have been sent off to hospitals close by timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Governor Mello promised to give support to all the families of victims in the hospitals and with rescue efforts. thesun.co.uk+9apnews.com+9calgary.citynews.ca+9.
Context: Popular Ballooning Activity
Praia Grande is popular in June for hot-air ballooning to mark religious festivals dedicated to Catholic saints such as St. John; flights go as high as 1,000 meters and cost around 550 reais per passenger youtube.com+12spectrumlocalnews.com+12apnews.com+12. Just days earlier, another accident in São Paulo state killed one person and injured 11 others omni.se+15apnews.com+15thesun.co.uk+15.
Investigations and Safety Oversight
State officials have begun an investigation to determine how the ignitions occurred and if the operator, Sobrevoar, observed the proper licensing and safety protocols. Additional details to come as local police and aviation regulators report. thesun.co.uk+1the-independent.com+1
Wider Context & Ballooning Safety Risks
It is one of two hot-air balloon disasters in Brazil in less than a week. Recent incidents including one in Türkiye and another in São Paulo state bring to the fore again the need for tighter regulation and stricter safety procedures in the ballooning industry to ensure the safety of passengers and operators. dw.com
A fire occurred on a commercial hot-air balloon in southern Brazil, resulting in eight fatalities and thirteen injuries. Survivors described how the pilot facilitated a swift descent and guided passengers to exit the balloon. This incident highlights ongoing safety issues in balloon tourism and points to the necessity for a thorough review of regulations.
