A tragic hot air balloon fire in Praia Grande, Brazil, leaves 8 dead and several injured. Details on the catastrophic accident and ongoing investigations.
A seemingly routine hot air balloon ride in Brazil turned into a nightmare on the morning of Saturday, June 21, 2025, when a blaze broke out mid-air, leading to the tragic deaths of eight passengers. The incident occurred during a sightseeing flight in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, over a popular tourist route featuring panoramic views of landmarks like the Bom Jesus Waterfall.
The balloon, which was carrying 21 passengers, caught fire shortly after taking off from the ground. As it hovered over the Cachoeirinha de Fátima neighborhood, a small flame that initially ignited inside the basket grew into a raging fire that quickly engulfed the entire structure. Witnesses from the ground filmed thick black smoke pouring from the balloon’s basket as the fire spread, with the envelope collapsing before the balloon plummeted to the forest below.
The pilot, one of the survivors, reported that the fire started from a backup torch stored inside the balloon’s basket. Intended for use only if the main burner failed, the backup torch reportedly ignited unexpectedly. The pilot attempted a rapid descent and instructed the passengers to jump to safety. Several passengers followed instructions, leaping from the balloon, and survived with injuries. However, once the weight was reduced, the balloon rose again, leaving the remaining passengers to face the full force of the fire.
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Rescue teams arrived quickly, and the death toll was confirmed to be eight by the end of the morning. Two survivors, both with non-life-threatening injuries, were taken to the hospital. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a 22nd, unregistered passenger who might have taken a vacant seat in the balloon.
Local residents were horrified by the sight. One witness described the scene: “We saw everything! It passed over our house, people were jumping, it was terrible.” Another shared their shock: “When the balloon started to catch fire, people were jumping. They were trying to escape the flames.”
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Over 30 balloons were flying over the area that morning, but it was the last one to take off that caught fire. Some reports suggest that the balloon may have brushed against a tree before the flames ignited, possibly pushed by strong winds.
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Praia Grande is a well-known tourist hub, renowned for its “Capital of Canyons” nickname and popular balloon rides. The balloon operator involved in this accident stated that all safety regulations had been followed and that the company had maintained a clean safety record. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by civil police, scientific police, and emergency response teams, with several officials on-site.
Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, expressed his condolences, offering solidarity to the families of the victims. “I want to express my solidarity with the families of the victims of the accident involving a balloon that occurred this Saturday morning in Santa Catarina,” he wrote on social media. “And to place the Federal Government at the disposal of the victims and the state and municipal forces working on the rescue and care of the survivors.”
This tragedy comes shortly after another fatal ballooning mishap earlier in June, in which a hot air balloon crashed in São Paulo, leading to another tragic loss of life. This second incident, along with the ongoing investigations, has raised fresh concerns about the safety regulations governing balloon flights in Brazil.
