A horrific accident involving a hot air balloon in Brazil has turned a romantic marriage proposal into a tragedy, resulting in the death of a pregnant woman. The pilot has been arrested, as it was discovered that he only held a private pilot’s license and is suspected of illegally carrying passengers. He will face charges of manslaughter.
According to reports from the Daily Mail, the incident occurred in the city of Boituva, São Paulo state. A 27-year-old university student, Nascimento, and her 37-year-old fiancé, engineer Kimpinas, drove seven hours from Rio de Janeiro to take a hot air balloon ride, hoping to create sweet memories. Upon arriving at the launch site that morning, they questioned whether the weather was suitable for flying due to the strong winds, but staff insisted on proceeding with the flight.
Nascimento recalled that 33 passengers were crammed into the hot air balloon’s basket. The pilot, Fabio Pereira, assured everyone that the wind conditions were manageable before taking off. Approximately 100 to 150 meters above the ground, Kimpinas surprised Nascimento with a marriage proposal, creating a romantic atmosphere that quickly turned chaotic.
As Nascimento described, another balloon nearby descended rapidly due to the strong winds, while their balloon began to shake violently in the air, and the pilot lost control. Pereira attempted an emergency landing in an orange grove but was unsuccessful. Four passengers were blown out of the basket by the strong winds. After several attempts, they finally managed to land, but tragically, 27-year-old pregnant woman Juliana Pereira was severely injured and later died in the hospital.
Juliana had joined the flight to celebrate Brazil’s Valentine’s Day (June 12) with her husband, but the outing ended in heartbreak. She suffered a broken nose, a fractured jaw, and significant blood loss, and despite medical efforts, she could not be saved. Eleven other passengers sustained minor injuries and were treated at medical facilities in Capela and Sorocaba.
Investigation
Police investigations revealed that the pilot only held a private license and had violated regulations by carrying passengers commercially in adverse weather conditions. He allowed over 30 people to crowd into a single hot air balloon, which is a serious safety violation. The investigation into the cause of the accident and the responsibilities of the operator is ongoing.
This tragic event has raised serious concerns about hot air balloon safety and the qualifications of pilots, highlighting the need for stricter regulations to prevent such incidents in the future.Bookmark messageCopy messageExport