At least eight people have died and 13 others were injured after a hot air balloon crashed in southern Brazil on Saturday. Shocking footage shows the balloon consumed by flames as it plummets from the sky — just as heartbreaking new details emerge about the final moments of several passengers onboard. A serene hot air balloon ride turned into a horrifying tragedy Saturday morning (June 21) over Praia Grande, a scenic ballooning hotspot in southern Brazil’s Santa Catarina state.

Pilot pleads for passengers to jump
What was meant to be a peaceful glide above the forests and fields ended in disaster when a fire broke out mid-flight, sending the balloon plummeting and leaving eight people dead. The balloon, operated by Sobrevoar Serviços Turísticos, was carrying 21 people when the disaster unfolded. According to survivors and law enforcement, a fire erupted inside the basket, forcing the pilot to descend quickly. Read below to uncover the horrifying details.

“According to the pilot, who is one of the survivors, a fire started inside the basket, so he started to lower the balloon,” Officer Tiago Luiz Lemos told reporters, according to BBC. “When it was very close to the ground, he told people to jump.” Thirteen people, including the pilot, managed to leap to safety before the balloon —lightened by their departure — rose again, carrying the remaining passengers toward a fiery fate. “The flames started to grow and because of the weight loss, the balloon began to rise again,” Officer Lemos said. “It later fell because of a loss of suspension.”

What sparked the blaze?
The exact cause remains under investigation, but early reports point to a backup burner stored inside the basket. The pilot testified that it may have reignited on its own. “I don’t know if it stayed lit or if it reignited on its own, but it was the torch that started it all,” he reportedly told Jornal Razao. Chief of police Ulisses Gabriel added that intense wind conditions at takeoff may have played a role. A ground crew had to stabilize the balloon with cables, and at one point a truck was seen pulling the balloon side to side. Gabriel told Globo News: “There was a truck pulling the balloon with a cable, which was moving very intensely. It’s possible this movement caused a gas leak, which led to the fire.” Despite the balloon’s flame-retardant materials, the fire spread rapidly.