A 40-year-old man fell to his death after the hot air balloon caught fire during a First Balloon Festival in Zacatecas, Mexico. The victim is identified as Luicio N, was dangling from a rope entangled in the lines of the balloon as the basket above him caught fire.
According to a report by Riviera Maya News, the incident took place when a hot air balloon caught fire on the ground with Luicio N and two other passengers inside.
When the fire erupted in the balloon, Luicio managed to pull the passengers from the basket to safety, but he became entwined in its ropes and was lifted into the air as the balloon ascended tragically, losing his life. Following the incident, Police recovered Luicio's body, and treatment was given to two passengers for first-degree burns at a nearby hospital.
The video of the incident has surfaced on social media. In the video, it is seen that the hot air balloon is engulfed in a blaze and traveling in the sky randomly before crashing on the ground.
Two injured and one dead after a hot air balloon caught fire in Zacatecas, Mexico at the First Balloon Festival.
Reportedly the man shown here helped two occupants out before getting tangled in the rope while the hot air balloon started rising...#HotAirBalloon #mexico pic.twitter.com/0Kml6mxQku
— Mrgunsngear (@Mrgunsngear) May 13, 2025
Investigation On Way
The Secretary General of Zacatecas, Rodrigo Reyes Muguerza, confirmed the incident, urging local municipalities to increase safety checks and enhance mechanisms amid festivals to prevent such a tragedy in the future.
"Immediately, authorities rushed to the scene to provide care and support to the affected people. We have requested the State Prosecutor's Office to carry out the relevant investigations to clarify the facts and disclose responsibilities. We urge all municipal authorities to strengthen their verification mechanisms to avoid such risks during the development of their activities and festivities," Muguerza stated in a statement.
Currently, officials are probing the recent incident to figure out the cause of the fire and identify further safety lapses in the future.
The video of the incident has surfaced on social media. In the video, it is seen that the hot air balloon is engulfed in a blaze and traveling in the sky randomly before crashing on the ground.
