Overview

• Eight people died when the balloon caught fire and fell near the coastal town of Praia Grande while thirteen passengers survived and were hospitalized.
• Local governor Jorginho Mello confirmed the casualties on social media and said state rescue teams are on site supporting victims’ families.
• Viral footage shows flames shooting from the balloon’s envelope mid-flight before the basket detached and plummeted to the ground.
• Rescue operations and medical treatments are ongoing as investigators seek to determine what triggered the fire.
• Last Sunday, a balloon crash in São Paulo state killed a 27-year-old woman and injured 11 others, raising fresh scrutiny of safety protocols.