Eight die as hot-air balloon bursts into flames and plunges to the ground in Brazil – after 13 jumped to safety before craft burned completely

In a separate video circulating on social media, two people can be seen falling through the air as the fire spreads onboard the aircraft.

Thirteen people survived and were taken to hospitals, Santa Catarina’s military fire brigade said, adding that 21 people were on board including the pilot.

It is thought a woman might have boarded the hot air balloon at the very last minute, creating a possible 22nd victim, who authorities are searching for.

‘We are in mourning. A tragedy has happened. We will see how it unfolds, what happened, why it happened. But the important thing now is for the state structure to do what it can,’ State Governor Jorginho Mello said in a video on X.

Mello said he has asked authorities to head to the municipality ‘to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families.’