A tragic hot air balloon accident in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, on Saturday morning resulted in the deaths of at least eight people. The state governor, Jorginho Mello, confirmed the fatalities, while also reporting that 13 individuals, including the pilot, survived the harrowing incident. There were a total of 21 people on board the balloon when the disaster occurred.

According to officer Tiago Luiz Lemos of the Praia Grande police station, the pilot, who is among the survivors, reported that a fire ignited inside the balloon's basket. In response, the pilot initiated a descent and, once the balloon was very close to the ground, instructed passengers to jump. While some managed to escape, others did not. As the flames intensified and the weight on board decreased, the balloon began to ascend again before ultimately falling due to a loss of suspension.

The victims of the tragedy included two couples, a mother and daughter, an ophthalmologist, and a figure skater. All surviving individuals were promptly transported to nearby hospitals for medical attention. Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) has announced it is undertaking all necessary measures to thoroughly investigate the condition of both the aircraft and its crew to determine the cause of the accident.

Sobrevoar Serviços Turísticos, the company that operated the ill-fated flight, has indefinitely suspended its operations. The company released a statement asserting its compliance with all Anac regulations and highlighting its previously unblemished safety record. They expressed profound sorrow, stating, “Unfortunately, even with all necessary precautions and the efforts of our experienced pilot – who followed all recommended procedures and tried to save everyone on board – we are now faced with the pain caused by this tragedy.”

Government officials have extended their condolences and support. Governor Jorginho Mello, currently on an official mission in China, stated he had dispatched the "entire state structure" to assist in rescue efforts, provide aid, and comfort the affected families, assuring continuous monitoring of the situation. He added, “We are in mourning, what happened is a tragedy. We will investigate why this happened. But the important thing now is to do everything possible to reach out to the people and the families.” President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also conveyed his "solidarity with the families of the victims" via X, affirming that the federal government was prepared to assist and that state and municipal forces were actively involved in rescue operations and care for the survivors. Praia Grande is a well-known tourist destination, particularly popular for its hot air ballooning activities, making this accident particularly impactful for the local community and tourism sector.