A hot air balloon carrying two British tourists crashed in Mexico after the pilot lost control and hit power cables, landing on a football pitch. The incident occurred in the Teotihuacan Valley, about 25 miles northeast of Mexico City, yesterday morning. One of the tourists is in critical condition, with the other being a woman from London.
Emergency responders treated the tourists at the scene before transporting them to a hospital, where the female tourist sustained severe injuries. The company responsible for the hot air balloon ride, Happy Puerto, is under investigation following the accident, which disrupted electricity for nearby residents.
Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency confirmed the incident, reporting that the hot air balloon, registered as XA-OZY and operated by Happy Puerto, made contact with power lines, causing burns from an electric shock to the passengers. They were subsequently transferred to a private hospital in Mexico City for treatment, while the AFAC initiated an administrative inquiry into the matter.
This event follows a similar tragedy last year in Brazil, where a hot air balloon fire resulted in the deaths of eight individuals. Additionally, in April 2023, a married couple perished in a hot air balloon accident near Teotihuacan, leaving their teenage daughter injured. Eyewitness footage captured the balloon deflating and catching fire, leading to a fatal outcome for the passengers aboard.