Overview

• The balloon departed with 21 people on board, including the pilot, over the canyon-rich landscape near Praia Grande in Santa Catarina.
• Eyewitness and social media videos show the envelope bursting into flames before the craft plunged to the ground.
• Firefighters confirmed eight fatalities and said the 13 survivors were treated for burns and trauma at nearby hospitals.
• Investigators are reviewing equipment records and weather data to determine if a technical fault or gusty conditions led to the accident.
• Local officials and tour operators are calling for a review of safety measures in Brazil’s expanding hot air balloon tourism sector.