June 21 (UPI) -- A hot-air balloon carrying 21 passengers caught fire and killed eight during what was to be a 45-minute tourist flight in Brazil on Saturday morning.
The tragedy occurred in a popular tourist area in rural Praia Grande in the state of Santa Catarina, The New York Times reported.
The balloon's basket caught fire, which spread to the balloon while it was in the air and began falling after taking off at 8 a.m. local time.
"According to the pilot, who is one of the survivors, a fire started inside the basket," Praia Grande police officer Tiago Luiz Lemos told media.
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