Hot Air Balloon Catches Fire Mid-Air Forcing Passengers To Jump Off, 2 Dead. Video Surfaces

A family was flying in a hot-air balloon near Mexico city when the balloon caught fire. The couple jumped off of the balloon resulting in their deaths.

Visual of the hot-air balloon being on fire in mid-air

Source : Twitter | @Lerpc75

Two people died near Mexico City when their hot-air balloon caught fire in mid-air. A family was flying in a hot-air balloon over the famed Teotihuacan archeological site near Mexico City when the balloon caught fire.

At 8:40 am, the offices of Municipal Civil Protection received a call reporting an incident with a hot air balloon in the archaeological site of Teotihuacan, reported Spain's national daily Marca.

The Mexican government in a statement regarding the incident said that the passengers jumped from the balloon while adding that the child suffered burns, reported news agency AFP. The victims were identified as a 39-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man however, their names haven't been disclosed yet. 

"The passengers jumped from the balloon," the government of the state of Mexico said in a statement. It further detailed that the minor suffered second-degree burns to his face as well as a fracture to his right femur, reported AFP. 

Mexico 🇲🇽

! Breaking news!🚨🚨

Saturday, April 01, 2023, in the morning hours.

a hot air balloon catches fire and collapses in Teotihuacan, 2 people are reportedly dead.

The events occurred this morning in the vicinity of the Pyramid of the Sun and the area was cordoned off. pic.twitter.com/DlzJdv2oHH

— Lenar (@Lerpc75) April 1, 2023

In a minute-long video posted on the micro-blogging platform Twitter, it can be seen that the hot-air balloon caught fire mid-air and was burning vigorously with the flames engulfing the area inside the hot-air balloon where people can stand or sit.

There was no mention of more passengers on the balloon.

For around $150, several tour companies offer hot air balloon rides above Teotihuacan, which is located about 45 miles (70 kilometres) northeast of Mexico City.

With its Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon and its Avenue of the Dead, Teotihuacan is a popular tourist destination, a surviving monument to the pre-Columbian period.