This Sunday, a hot air balloon participating in the First Balloon Festival, part of the patron saint festivities of the municipality of Enrique Estrada, Zacatecas, caught fire mid-flight. As a result of the accident, one person aboard the balloon died.
The incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. and was captured in several videos circulating on social media. The images show how the flames consume the balloon’s basket as the vehicle loses altitude. At one point, a person hangs from the basket by a rope before falling into a remote area.
The Secretary General of the Zacatecas government, Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerza, confirmed the victim’s death and indicated that local authorities immediately responded to the scene to provide support to those affected. He also requested that the State Attorney General’s Office conduct the corresponding investigations to clarify the events.
Reyes Mugüerza also urged municipal authorities to strengthen Civil Protection verification mechanisms to avoid risks during future activities and festivities.
“I regret to inform you that, during the First Balloon Festival, part of the Enrique Estrada 2025 Fair, organized by the city council of this municipality, a person lost their life after an unfortunate incident while aboard a hot air balloon. Authorities immediately responded to the scene to provide care and support to those affected,” Reyes Mugüerza stated in a Facebook post.
“We have asked the State Attorney General’s Office to conduct the corresponding investigations to clarify the facts and determine responsibility. We urge all municipal authorities to strengthen their verification mechanisms to avoid these types of risks during their activities and festivities,” he added on the same social media platform.
Hot Air Balloon Accidents
In addition to this case, two recent incidents have called into question the safety of hot air balloon flights in Mexico. The most serious accident occurred on April 1, 2023, in Teotihuacán, State of Mexico, when a balloon caught fire in flight, killing two adults and seriously injuring a minor. Authorities arrested the pilot, who did not have the necessary operating permits. This case prompted a call to review regulations and safety protocols in the area, where ballooning is one of the main attractions.
Another accident occurred on January 12, 2025, when a balloon took off from Teotihuacán and was carried by the wind to the municipality of Axapusco, where it made an emergency landing. Two foreign tourists were injured and taken to a hospital, where they were reported to be out of danger. Although there were no fatalities in this case, the incident reinforced the urgency of strengthening supervisory measures to ensure safe flights.
Source: infobae
