In brief
The incident occurred in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, as a hot air balloon carrying 21 people caught fire, prompting an emergency descent.
The crash, which left 13 survivors, is under investigation by Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency, as the affected families receive support.At least eight people died in a hot air balloon accident that occurred in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, as confirmed by the governor, Jorginho Mello. The balloon, carrying 21 passengers, erupted in flames on Saturday morning, leading to an urgent attempt to lower the balloon. According to authorities, the pilot advised passengers to jump as the balloon descended, but not everyone managed to escape before the flames intensified and caused the balloon to ascend again before ultimately crashing due to loss of suspension.The passengers included two couples, a mother and her daughter, an ophthalmologist, and a figure skater. Thirteen others, including the pilot, survived the ordeal and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Following the accident, the balloon tour operator, Sobrevoar Serviços Turísticos, announced the indefinite suspension of its activities, asserting compliance with regulations from the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) and a clean safety record prior to the incident.In a social media statement, Governor Mello, currently in China for an official trip, pledged to mobilize state resources to assist the affected families and emphasized the state's mourning for this tragedy. He urged an investigation to determine the factors that led to the accident.President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also expressed condolences via social media, offering federal government support to the victims' families and confirming the involvement of state and local forces in responding to the disaster. Praia Grande, known for its vibrant ballooning tourism, is now grappling with the aftermath of this heartbreaking incident.
