A hot air balloon carrying 21 people crashed in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. The accident happened early in the morning during a popular tourist balloon flight. The balloon caught fire mid-air, and the pilot attempted to bring it down safely. The pilot instructed passengers to jump as the balloon descended, and 13 survived by jumping out. Unfortunately, 8 people died — 4 were burned inside the basket and 4 others died after falling during the descent. The victims included couples, a mother and daughter, an ophthalmologist and a figure skater. The balloon basket was about 3,5 meters wide and made to carry up to 24 passengers. The company operating the balloon, Sobrevoar Serviços Turísticos, suspended all activities indefinitely following the tragedy. Authorities launched an investigation, which is expected to be completed within 30 days. The fire was possibly caused by the blowtorch used to heat the air inside the balloon. The region is known as the "Brazilian Cappadocia" for its scenic balloon flights. This incident marked the deadliest ballooning accident in Brazil's history and the worst worldwide since 2016.