A heartbreaking hot air balloon incident took the lives of eight individuals on Saturday morning (June 21) in the Brazilian city of Praia Grande.
Among those who lost their lives were a mother and her daughter, an eye doctor, and a figure skater.
Now, fresh information has come to light about the victims’ last moments — and who had to witness their tragic end.
What started as a fun morning flight turned into a horrific disaster when a hot air balloon carrying 21 passengers caught fire in the air and plummeted down in southern Brazil, resulting in eight fatalities and leaving survivors deeply shaken.
The flight, arranged over the beautiful town of Praia Grande in Santa Catarina, was intended to be a serene 45-minute joyride, reaching heights of up to 1,000 meters. Tickets were priced at around 550 reais — or about $150 each.
What was supposed to be a memorable sightseeing experience transformed into chaos and sorrow — for both those in the balloon and those watching from the ground.
The pilot’s account.
The pilot who astonishingly survived has now shared his harrowing struggle to save those on board.
”As per the pilot, who is among the survivors, a fire ignited inside the basket, prompting him to lower the balloon,” stated Praia Grande’s chief police officer Tiago Luiz Lemos to Folha de São Paulo. “When the balloon was nearly touching the ground, he instructed passengers to leap out of the basket.
Footage released by local news outlet G1 captures the balloon completely engulfed in flames, spewing smoke as it descends rapidly towards the ground. Shortly after, the passenger basket detaches and crashes down.
Panic-stricken passengers were spotted jumping from the burning balloon while in mid-air. Some managed to survive, while others did not.
The pilot, in an interview with Jornal Razão, described the cause of the fire: “I’m not sure if it stayed lit or reignited by itself, but it was the torch that ignited everything.”
As the flames spread through the basket, the pilot initiated an emergency descent and instructed passengers to jump when they were low enough. Those who hesitated or couldn’t escape in time either fell victim to the fire or perished in the drop.
“When people began to jump, the balloon became lighter and ascended again—still with some individuals inside—before being completely engulfed in flames,” witnesses recounted to local media.
Governor Jorginho Mello confirmed: “There were 21 people on board — 8 fatalities, 13 survivors. Our teams are continuing to offer all necessary support to the families and victims.”
The victims of the balloon crash.
The balloon incident in Brazil impacted many lives—relatives, friends, and numerous others. The tragedy hit the Herrmann family particularly hard.
Leise Herrmann Parizotto, 37, a civil servant and doctor from Blumenau, along with her mother Leane Elizabeth Herrmann, a 70-year-old retired bank employee, both lost their lives in the crash.
However, Leane’s other daughter, Leciane, is said to have survived the terrible incident, as reported by Brazilian media.
Words from the Mayor.
Dr. Andrei Gabriel de Melo, a 34-year-old eye doctor from Santa Catarina, also lost his life in the crash. His friends expressed their sorrow on social media, where he had referred to ophthalmology as an “art” on his professional profile.
The passing of Dr. Andrei Gabriel de Melo led to a wave of sadness in Fraiburgo, located in western Santa Catarina. Mayor Wilson Ribeiro honored him with the following words:
“Andrei may no longer be with us in body, but the love he shared will last forever. May that love give you strength in these tough times.”
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Leandro Luzzi, 36, a cherished figure skating coach from Brusque, has also been confirmed as one of the victims.
On social media, the school he worked at, the city council, and the Santa Catarina figure skating federation all expressed their grief over his loss. “Leandro was a committed professional athlete, passionate about his work, and a true inspiration for athletes, colleagues, and the entire figure skating community. His absence will create an unfillable gap in our hearts and in our sport,” the federation stated.
Another heartbreaking family tragedy.
The married couple Janaina Moreira Soares da Rocha, 46, and Everaldo da Rocha, 53, were also reported to have died. Janaina and Everaldo were dedicated members of the Saint John the Baptist parish in Joinville.
They were at Praia Grande with their 23-year-old daughter, Luana, who somehow jumped out of the hot air balloon basket and landed in a swampy spot, coming away without any visible injuries.
“Earlier today, we held a Mass for their funeral, and our community showed up in huge numbers. Everyone was in disbelief,” said Father Anderson Pitz, the parish vicar, during an interview with Crux.
Pitz talked to Luana and described her as being in a “very fragile emotional state.”
“It’s really tough to lose both parents at once,” he added.
Right after the accident, before the authorities confirmed her parents’ deaths, Luana took to social media to say she was okay after jumping from the basket.
Luana da Rocha, daughter of the couple Janaina Moreira Soares da Rocha, 46, and Everaldo da Rocha, 53, stated in a post on…
Posted by Mix Bastidores tv on Sunday, June 22, 2025.
Once her parents’ bodies were discovered, she shared a picture of them with her, writing: “You meant everything to me! You were all I had.”
She also mentioned that her mom was her best friend.
“She lived with them. Now, she will definitely get support from her extended family. Janaina’s parents are still alive, and both she and Everaldo had siblings,” Pitz explained.
Brazilian news sources have portrayed the couple as lively and enthusiastic about sports, frequently joining friends for bike rides and games of soccer or volleyball.
The seventh and eighth victims of the tragedy have been identified as 36-year-old agricultural engineer Juliane Sawicki and her boyfriend, 42-year-old Fabio Izycki.
Four victims were reported to have died inside the burning basket.
According to local authorities, four victims perished in the burning basket, while another four lost their lives due to injuries from the fall.
Many of the victims hailed from the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, and they were in Praia Grande to celebrate the Corpus Christi holiday weekend.
Ulisses Gabriel, the head of Santa Catarina’s civil police, revealed on X that three victims were found holding each other.
“It hurts the soul,” he said.
Governor Jorginho Mello shared a video on X, stating that he had instructed officials to go to the town “to do as much as possible to rescue, to help, to take to hospital, to comfort the families.”
“We are in mourning. A tragedy has occurred. We will investigate how it happened, why it happened. But right now, the priority is for the state to do everything it can,” he added.
This marks the second serious hot air balloon accident in Brazil within a week.
Just last Sunday (June 15), a woman died and 11 others were injured when a balloon crashed in Boituva. The deceased was 39-year-old Juliana Alves Prado Pereira.
Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to all the victims of this tragic accident and their families. We hope they find strength and comfort during this incredibly tough time.
