Islamabad, June 23, 2025: A tragic hot-air balloon crash in Brazil’s scenic tourist city of Praia Grande has left eight people dead and thirteen others injured after the aircraft caught fire mid-flight and plummeted into a forested area.
According to the Santa Catarina state fire department, the balloon was carrying 21 individuals, including the pilot, when the incident occurred during the early morning hours of Saturday. Witnesses reported seeing flames erupt from the balloon shortly before it lost altitude and crashed. The balloon was part of a popular tourism activity in the area, where 25 to 30 balloons take flight daily during peak season, offering panoramic views of southern Brazil.
“The balloon caught fire during the flight and crashed into a remote forest zone,” confirmed a fire department official.
Rescue teams quickly reached the scene and transported 13 survivors to nearby hospitals. Emergency officials have stated that while some victims sustained serious injuries, no lives are currently at risk among the survivors. The identities of the deceased have not yet been publicly released.
Praia Grande, known for its ballooning tourism, has now been thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the Santa Catarina hot-air balloon fire and whether safety protocols were breached.
This is one of the most fatal balloon accidents in Brazil in recent years and has raised concerns over the regulation and inspection of tourist balloon operations in the country.
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As the investigation unfolds, the local government has pledged to support the families of the victims and re-evaluate existing tourism safety standards to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
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