Shocking Video: Hot-air balloon fire kills 8 and injures 13 in Brazil
A hot-air balloon carrying 21 people caught fire in Brazil; 13 survived and were rushed to nearby hospitals.
A hot air balloon caught fire in midair on Saturday in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The fire broke out while the vehicle was in flight and left eight people dead.
According to firefighters in the area, the 13 other occupants survived the crash landing and were transported to a nearby hospital. Witnesses reported flames and smoke prior to the balloon losing its tenuous grip on altitude, gliding down slowly - some even having time to jump as a last ditch action.
Hot-air balloon fire: Cause and rescue efforts
According to the pilot, one of the survivors, the fire was inside the basket of the assembly at the time he initiated an emergency descent. Near the ground, he yelled for the passengers to jump, but many did not make it out before the balloon crash landed.
Santa Catarina Governor Jorginho Mello deemed the crash to be a tragedy and ordered the state agencies to assist the injured and those who lost family members. First responders immediately made their way to the site and local police said they were looking to investigate what went wrong on the supposed 45-minute ride.
Hot-air ballooning risks
Hot-air balloon rides are an increasingly popular activity for June festivities throughout the south of Brazil, especially holidays like St. John's Day. Many people come to Praia Grande to take in a peaceful ride and landscape.
However, the accident mentioned above -- and another crash in São Paulo last week that killed one woman -- shows how flights can turn very dangerous in milliseconds and we need to pay attention to safety and maintenance standards in our future trips.
