Hot air balloon catches fire, man dies after rescuing 2 people

According to Riviera Maya News , the victim was identified as Mr. Luicio N. (40 years old), who died at around 8:00 a.m. on May 11 (local time).

The accident occurred during the first Hot Air Balloon Festival, taking place at the Enrique Estrada fair, Zacatecas state (Mexico).

Hot air balloon catches fire, man falls freely after saving 2 lives ( Video : X @CollinRugg).

Video posted on Twitter shows Luicio hanging from a rope - believed to be a balloon tether - while the basket above him bursts into flames, spewing thick black smoke and continuing to rise.

Then, as the balloon drifted away, the man let go and fell freely from a height of dozens of meters.

In a statement after the incident, Mr. Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerza, Secretary General of Zacatecas state, said: "I am deeply sorry to announce that during the first Hot Air Balloon Festival a person lost his life after an unfortunate incident."

The balloon caught fire while still on the ground (Photo: Screenshot).

According to local media, the incident began when the balloon suddenly burst into flames from the ground while Luicio and two other passengers were inside.

Immediately, Luicio removed the two passengers from the basket and guided them to safety.

However, as the balloon continued to rise, Luicio unfortunately got caught in the rope and was pulled into the air. He tried to hold on to the rope for several minutes before letting go and falling to the ground, dying on the spot.

Two passengers were taken to hospital and are recovering from first-degree burns.

The incident is being investigated by authorities. Officials have called on festival organizers and balloon operators to increase inspections and strictly adhere to safety measures to prevent similar incidents.

"We have asked the State Prosecutor's Office to conduct a comprehensive investigation to clarify the cause of the incident and determine the responsibilities involved. At the same time, we urge local authorities to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure safety during events and festivals," Mr. Reyes Mugüerza emphasized.

 

 

 

 

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/khinh-khi-cau-boc-chay-nguoi-dan-ong-thiet-mang-sau-khi-cuu-2-nguoi-20250514235314302.htm