Juliana Alves Prado Pereira dies in fatal São Paulo hot air balloon crash
Juliana Alves Prado Pereira dies in fatal São Paulo hot air balloon crash
Fatal São Paulo hot air balloon crash death of Juliana Alves Prado Pereira
Juliana Alves Prado Pereira, 27, tragically lost her life following a hot air balloon crash on June 15 in São Paulo, Brazil. The accident occurred during a balloon ride that included multiple romantic proposals in celebration of Brazil’s version of Valentine’s Day.
The ill-fated balloon departed from Capela do Alto with 33 passengers, a pilot, and an assistant. Around 7:50 a.m., strong winds reportedly caused the balloon to lose control and crash, leading to the death of Prado Pereira and injuring 11 others. She was transported to a hospital in Sorocaba but was pronounced dead. Reports indicate she may have been pregnant at the time, prompting an ordered pregnancy test.
Prado Pereira was on board with her husband, Leandro de Aquino Pereira, for a celebratory flight. One passenger, Gabrielle Rosa do Nascimento, shared that several proposals took place midair before conditions deteriorated. She described how the balloon first attempted a landing in an orange grove during which several individuals were ejected from the basket and sustained injuries. The balloon then briefly lifted off again before making a second, violent landing.
According to do Nascimento, Prado Pereira was severely injured, unconscious, and unresponsive after the crash. Her husband attempted to keep her alive until help arrived.
Authorities have since arrested the pilot, Fabio Salvador Pereira, on suspicion of aggravated manslaughter and unauthorized operation of an aircraft. Officials said he lacked proper licensing and was only certified for private flights. The flight was also deemed illegal by the Brazilian Ballooning Confederation, which noted that balloon rides were prohibited that day due to unsafe weather and that the aircraft was only registered for a maximum of 24 passengers.
An investigation has been launched with assistance from aviation accident authorities. Officials are awaiting autopsy and forensic reports to determine the precise causes of both the crash and Prado Pereira’s death.
The business responsible for the flight had reportedly been shut down previously, and the Confederation confirmed the balloon had no ties to the official Brazilian Hot Air Ballooning Championship happening that weekend, which had canceled events due to poor weather.
Passengers, including those newly engaged, are now left to cope with the trauma of what was meant to be a joyful experience. As one survivor said, “What should have been a happy day of engagement became a nightmare for life.”