Latest news with #balão
Times of Oman
22-06-2025
- Times of Oman
Eight killed after hot-air balloon catches fire and crashes in Southern Brazil
Brasilia: At least eight people were killed on Saturday (local time) after a hot-air balloon caught fire mid-air and crashed in a tourist region of southern Brazil, the New York Times (NYT) reported, citing local authorities. The incident occurred in the rural area of Praia Grande, located in the state of Santa Catarina, a region well known for its scenic balloon rides over stunning canyon landscapes. According to the state's military fire brigade, the balloon caught fire in the air and went down shortly after 8 am (local time). Of the 21 people on board, including the pilot, 13 survived the crash and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, as reported by the NYT. Rescue teams, including some 20 firefighters and seven emergency vehicles, were dispatched to the scene to assist with recovery efforts. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, the NYT reported, citing a statement from the Santa Catarina Governor Jorginho Mello. Mello described the event as a tragedy, as per a video posted to his social media. "We are in mourning... It is a tragedy that has happened. We will watch how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened," he stated, as quoted by the NYT. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences to the victims' families and confirmed that both federal and state agencies are supporting the ongoing rescue and response operations. "I would like to express my solidarity with the families of the victims of the balloon accident that occurred this Saturday morning in Santa Catarina. I would like to place the Federal Government at the disposal of the victims and the state and municipal forces that are working on the rescue and care for the survivors," he stated in a post on X. The accident comes just days after another hot-air balloon mishap in São Paulo state, where one person was killed and 11 injured when a balloon carrying 30 people fell, as reported by the NYT.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Yahoo
Hot-air balloon crash in Brazil kills eight people
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Eight people were killed after a hot-air balloon carrying 21 passengers, including the pilot, crashed on Saturday in Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, state officials said. The tourism balloon caught fire during the flight in early morning hours, crashing in a forest area in the city of Praia Grande, according to the state fire department. The city is a popular tourist spot for balloon trips in Brazil. The Santa Catarina government estimates that 25 to 30 hot-air balloons depart daily from Praia Grande in peak season, with most of them having capacity to transport as many as 25 people. Thirteen survivors were transported to nearby hospitals, according to the fire department. A spokesperson of the department told local news outlet CNN Brasil that none of them were with their lives at risk. In a post on X, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed solidarity with the families of the victims, saying the federal government is available to local and state forces acting in the case.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Yahoo
Hot air balloon crash in Brazil kills at least eight
At least eight people have been killed after a hot air balloon carrying 21 passengers crashed in Brazil's southern state of Santa Catarina, local and state officials say. The tourism balloon caught fire during the flight in early morning hours, crashing in the city of Praia Grande, according to the state fire department. Thirteen survivors were transported to nearby hospitals, according to the fire department. 09:11 ATENDIMENTO PRÉ-HOSPITALAR local: Base de Lançamento de Balões, CIDADE, #PRAIA GRANDE - acidente envolvendo queda balão — Emergências 193 (CBMSC) (@CBMSC193) June 21, 2025 Footage shared by local news outlet G1 showed billows of smoke coming from the balloon in flames as it hurdled towards the ground. Last Sunday, a balloon fell in Sao Paulo state, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 others, G1 reported. Praia Grande is a common destination for hot-air ballooning, a popular activity in some parts of Brazil's south during June festivities that celebrate Catholic saints such as Saint John. with AP
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Beaming woman says yes to fiancé's proposal on illegal hot air balloon ride...moments before gory tragedy struck
A woman's fairytale proposal aboard a hot air balloon turned into a nightmare after it crashed and killed a pregnant passenger in Capela, Brazil. College student Gabrielle Nascimento, 27, joined her engineer fiancé Tiago Kempinas, 37, for a seven-hour drive from their Rio de Janeiro home to Boituva, a city in São Paulo. They arrived Sunday around 5am and visited a company that offers sightseeing flights over the city - but they expressed doubts over whether the trip would take place due to strong winds, Nascimento told Brazilian news outlet G1. Their group boarded a flight to a place she described as 'clandestine' - and were met by workers inflating two hot air balloons. The couple got inside the basket-looking gondola along with 31 other passengers as the pilot, Fabio Pereira, assured Nascimento that he was monitoring the swirling winds with a flight device. Everything seemed normal as the hot air balloon glided about 328 to 492 feet above ground, before Kempinas presented Nascimento with the engagement ring. However, the euphoric marriage proposal soon ended as the pilot began to lose control. 'I had no idea that my husband would propose to me like that,' Nascimento said. 'It was beautiful, until it turned into a nightmare. It was horrible. I will never get in a balloon again, let alone a plane.' Nascimento recalled watching how the second balloon that flew alongside her group quickly landed because of the strong winds. She could hear Pereira talking into a two-way radio about continuing the flight. 'At that moment, the balloon started going too fast. He then tried to make the first landing in an orange grove,' she said. Nascimento remembered seeing four people being ejected from the basket as it dragged across a rural field before taking flight again. Most of the people, including herself and her fiancé, were able to get out after it landed the second time. Nascimento remembered watching 27-year-old Juliana Pereira, of no relation to the pilot, writhing in pain before she was eventually rescued by paramedics and rushed to an area hospital, where she died. First responders transferred 11 passengers - all of whom suffered minor injuries - to an urgent care facility in Capela do Alto and to Sorocaba Hospital Complex in Sorocaba. 'Everyone was screaming. The girl who unfortunately died was very injured. Apparently, her nose was broken, she was bleeding and her jaw was split open,' Nascimento said. 'She was already unconscious and her coat was torn. She was moaning in pain and her husband was trying to keep her alive. At that point, the pilot was also injured. We flew over the plane for another 15 minutes until he saw a field, where we fell and were swept away.' Pereira and her husband, Leandro Pereira, had recently married and took the hot air balloon ride to celebrate Valentine's Day - which is celebrated in Brazil on June 12. 'She was a very, very loved person. I can't believe Ju left,' Leandro's grandmother, Maria Aquino, told Brazilian news outlet G1. 'I still can't believe it, guys. A trip like that took her away.' Leandro's aunt, Jessica Aquino, questioned the pilot's decision to carry on with the flight despite what she described as unsafe weather conditions. 'She really wanted to come on this trip. But how can they put 33 people inside a balloon in weather like this?' Jessica said. 'Today the weather was horrible, very windy, so it was completely negligent of those people who put them inside.' Fabio Pereira, was arrested by the Civil Police on aggravated manslaughter and irregular ballooning activity charges. Investigators found that he was only licensed to perform private flights.
