Tragedy in Santa Catarina: hot air balloon explosion claims lives, the world demands answers
22 june 2025 в 17:13
Observers in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, were shocked to see a hot air balloon suddenly burst into flames and crash on Saturday, June 21. The tragedy claimed several lives and injured others on board the hot air balloon. Now the whole world is wondering what caused the incident, with the overseeing hot air balloon company, Sobrevoar, insisting that they took all «necessary precautions».
«Despite all necessary precautions and efforts by our pilot — who has extensive experience and followed all recommended procedures in an attempt to save everyone on board the hot air balloon — we are suffering from the pain caused by this tragedy», - the company said in a public statement, adding that they have temporarily suspended all hot air balloon flights.
Below, we break down everything we know so far about the tragic hot air balloon crash.
According to the Associated Press, the hot air balloon somehow burst into flames and crashed to the ground on June 21. The exact cause of how the fire spread through the hot air balloon is still unclear.
Footage from the local news agency G1 showed plumes of smoke from the hot air balloon as it descended from the sky. Two people were even seen falling as the fire spread through the hot air balloon.
As stated by the company Sobrevoar, their hot air balloon flight took «all necessary precautions», - and their pilot did everything possible «to save everyone on board».
Yes, eight people died as a result of the crash, reports AP. Thirteen others were injured in the fire. Horrific videos of the incident are circulating on social media, showing the hot air balloon rapidly descending to the ground as witnesses helplessly watch from below.
Officials reported that three victims were hugging each other as they died.
Fatal accidents involving hot air balloons are rare, as are aviation incidents involving commercial airplanes. But just a week before the latest hot air balloon crash, a separate hot air balloon crashed in the state of Sao Paulo, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 people, according to the local news agency G1.
In the United States alone, there were 495 hot air balloon accidents recorded from 1964 to 1995, according to data published on Pubmed.gov. From 2000 to 2011, there were reports of 164 hot air balloon crashes. From 2014 to 2021, there have been three reported accidents
«Despite all necessary precautions and efforts by our pilot — who has extensive experience and followed all recommended procedures in an attempt to save everyone on board the hot air balloon — we are suffering from the pain caused by this tragedy», - the company said in a public statement, adding that they have temporarily suspended all hot air balloon flights.
Below, we break down everything we know so far about the tragic hot air balloon crash.
According to the Associated Press, the hot air balloon somehow burst into flames and crashed to the ground on June 21. The exact cause of how the fire spread through the hot air balloon is still unclear.
Footage from the local news agency G1 showed plumes of smoke from the hot air balloon as it descended from the sky. Two people were even seen falling as the fire spread through the hot air balloon.
As stated by the company Sobrevoar, their hot air balloon flight took «all necessary precautions», - and their pilot did everything possible «to save everyone on board».
Yes, eight people died as a result of the crash, reports AP. Thirteen others were injured in the fire. Horrific videos of the incident are circulating on social media, showing the hot air balloon rapidly descending to the ground as witnesses helplessly watch from below.
Officials reported that three victims were hugging each other as they died.
Fatal accidents involving hot air balloons are rare, as are aviation incidents involving commercial airplanes. But just a week before the latest hot air balloon crash, a separate hot air balloon crashed in the state of Sao Paulo, killing a 27-year-old woman and injuring 11 people, according to the local news agency G1.
In the United States alone, there were 495 hot air balloon accidents recorded from 1964 to 1995, according to data published on Pubmed.gov. From 2000 to 2011, there were reports of 164 hot air balloon crashes. From 2014 to 2021, there have been three reported accidents
© Artemenko Olga
