Eight killed and 13 injured as tourist hot-air balloon erupts in flames over Brazil's Praia Grande
Governor Jorginho Mello announced the casualties just hours after the accident, confirming that emergency teams had recovered eight bodies and taken 13 survivors to nearby hospitals.
Videos filmed by residents show the balloon's envelope engulfed in flames above farmland. Moments later the basket detached, plunging several dozen metres while terrified passengers jumped in an attempt to escape the blaze.
VIDEO: A dawn sightseeing balloon ride over Praia Grande, Santa Catarina in Brazil, turned to tragedy on 21 Jun 2025 when the craft erupted in flames and crashed. 8 dead, 13 injured. pic.twitter.com/7zIjiotcod
— The Online Citizen (@theon9citizen) June 22, 2025
Investigators believe a backup blowtorch stored in the basket ignited leaking propane, triggering a flash fire that quickly spread to the fabric canopy. The pilot began an emergency descent and instructed passengers to jump once the balloon neared the ground.
Four victims were burned to death inside the basket. The remaining four died from injuries sustained during their desperate leap as the balloon lost weight, rose again, and reignited before slamming into a field.
Thirteen survivors, including the pilot, were treated at three regional facilities. Our Lady of Fatima Hospital reported three patients in stable condition with minor burns and fractures, while two others were discharged later the same day. The remaining eight were kept under observation.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed condolences and promised federal support for the investigation, stating that all agencies would 'spare no effort to clarify the causes of the tragedy'.
The balloon, a Czech-built Kubíček BB85 operated by Praia-based company Sobrevoar Serviços Turísticos, had passed its annual inspection in May and was insured. The operator has suspended flights indefinitely and offered to assist victims' families.
Civil police and the National Civil Aviation Agency have opened separate inquiries. Specialists are analysing flight logs, maintenance records and fuel samples. Preliminary findings are expected within 30 days, though a final report could take several months.
Hot-air ballooning is the main draw for Praia Grande, often called 'the Brazilian Cappadocia'. Calm mornings allow up to 30 launches a day during the June festival season, attracting tourists eager to view the region's dramatic basalt canyons from the air.
Saturday's disaster was Brazil's second fatal balloon incident in a week. On 16 June an unauthorised craft crashed into power lines in São Paulo state, killing one person and injuring 11, heightening calls for stricter oversight of lighter-than-air tourism nationwide.
Authorities later identified six of the Praia Grande victims as doctors Leise Herrmann Parizotto and Andrei Gabriel de Melo, civil servant Leane Herrmann, figure-skating coach Leandro Luzzi, and married couple Janaina and Everaldo da Rocha. Two other names were withheld pending formal notification.
Municipal tourism chief Paulo Machado warned that the crash could devastate local livelihoods, noting that dozens of family-run businesses rely on balloon flights. He urged investigators to publish transparent findings quickly to restore visitor confidence.
Funeral arrangements are being coordinated with forensic services, and an evening candle-lit vigil drew hundreds of residents to Praia Grande's main square. Counsellors and social workers are offering support to grieving relatives.
Globally, fatal balloon accidents remain rare but often deadly. Major incidents in Egypt, the United States and Mexico over the past decade have highlighted the need for redundant safety systems and rigorous crew training.
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