Tragedy in the Skies: Hot Air Balloon Fire in Brazil Leaves 8 Dead, 13 Injured
What began as a peaceful sunrise balloon ride over the picturesque landscapes of southern Brazil turned into an unimaginable nightmare. On the morning of June 21, a hot air balloon operated by Sobrevoar Serviços Turísticos caught fire mid-flight and crashed near Praia Grande in Santa Catarina, killing eight people and injuring thirteen others.
The flight had launched at dawn, promising passengers sweeping views of forests and rolling hills in one of Brazil’s most popular ballooning regions. Twenty-one people boarded the balloon expecting a scenic 45-minute journey. But moments into the trip, disaster struck—a fire erupted inside the basket, quickly escalating into a deadly inferno.
Tiago Luiz Lemos, the pilot, survived the crash and recounted the harrowing ordeal. As flames grew, he attempted an emergency descent, shouting for passengers to jump when the balloon neared the ground. Thirteen people—including the pilot—managed to leap to safety. Tragically, the balloon then lifted again, now lighter from the people who had escaped. The eight remaining passengers were carried higher into the air before the balloon finally lost lift and plummeted, consumed by fire.
“The flames started to grow quickly,” said Lemos. “When people jumped, the balloon rose again because of the weight loss. Then it crashed because it couldn’t stay airborne.”
Investigators believe the fire may have started from a malfunctioning backup burner, which could have reignited unexpectedly. Takeoff conditions were already challenging, with strong winds forcing the ground crew to use cables—and even a truck—to stabilize the balloon. Authorities suspect this may have caused a gas leak that ignited and fueled the blaze.
Despite the use of flame-resistant materials, the fire spread with alarming speed. Civil Police Chief Ulisses Gabriel confirmed the theory that “the truck and cable setup during launch likely contributed to the gas leak that sparked the fire.”
Among the eight lives lost were two couples, a mother and daughter, an ophthalmologist, and a young figure skater. In a chilling discovery, three of the victims were found locked in a final embrace. Witnesses described seeing bodies fall from the sky and emergency crews pulling survivors from mud and debris. One woman, covered in mud and visibly shaken, was rescued from a pasture near grazing horses. A man limping and crying out for help was also saved as rescuers worked through leaking fuel and smoldering wreckage.
The tragedy has sparked widespread mourning across Brazil. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva offered condolences to the victims’ families and pledged full federal support for the investigation. Santa Catarina Governor Jorginho Mello, who was in China at the time, declared an official mourning period.
The National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) has launched a formal investigation, with initial results expected within 30 days. In the meantime, Sobrevoar Serviços Turísticos has suspended all operations indefinitely, stating that they had followed all safety protocols and expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life.
This is Brazil’s second fatal hot air balloon accident in recent weeks. Earlier in June, a separate incident in São Paulo claimed one life and left 11 others injured. These back-to-back tragedies have intensified public concern over balloon flight safety regulations and enforcement.
Passengers on the doomed flight had paid the equivalent of $100 for what should have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience floating 1,000 meters above the ground. Instead, it ended in a horrific catastrophe that has left a community—and a country—in mourning.