A hot air balloon carrying 21 people caught fire mid‑air over Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, Brazil on 21 June. A blaze ignited in the basket, prompting the pilot to descend and urge passengers to jump. Eight people lost their lives after being trapped by the flames, while thirteen others, including the pilot, managed to survive. The Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency has launched an investigation.
You've probably seen a few harrowing stories of plane crashes, but, sadly, they're not the only kind of aviation accidents that can occur. Hot-air balloons have been around longer than planes, and as
peaceful as they may seem, these rides can be very dangerous. Originally pioneered in the 18th century, any kind of irreversible damage to or poor decisions made in one of these aircraft can lead to horrible accidents.
Need proof? Check out this gallery to discover the deadliest hot-air balloon accidents in history.