In Mexico City on Saturday, a Mexican couple’s hot balloon caught fire and crashed to the ground, killing them both and seriously hurting their daughter.
According to the Daily Mail, the shocking incident, which was captured on video and shared on social media, claimed the lives of Jose Nolasco, 50, and his wife Viridiana Becerril, 38.
According to Mexican authorities, Regina Itzani, their daughter, broke her arm when she jumped from the burning gondola. Itzani is anticipated to survive despite having second-degree burns and a broken arm, according to the Daily Mail.
The family, from the city of Caujimalpa de Morelos, was on a joyride over the pre-Hispanic ruin site of Teotihuacan, a popular tourist area.
If a pilot was aboard the balloon, which appeared to be still attached to the ground, is unknown.
The basket was engulfed in flames in the witness’ video. Soon after, the balloon wilted, and the gondola sped towards the ground as the people inside appeared to either fall out or jump out.
“My God, people are falling,” one onlooker said in Spanish, according to the Daily Mail.
It wasn’t clear who departed the balloon.According to the outlet, Mexican police said Sunday that they are still looking into what started the fire. Despite the fact that early local reports suggested a connection to the fuel storage system.
Immediately prior to their tragic ride, the family snapped a selfie. According to social media reports, Regina and her dad, Jose, planned the trip as Viridiana’s birthday present, according to the Daily Mail.
“It was the birthday of my daughter Viridiana, Regina’s mom, and they had prepared this ride as a surprise for her,” said Regina’s grandmother, Reyna Gloria Sarmiento.
Sarmiento added that the condition of her granddaughter, whose age was not given, remained stable. Before jumping from the balloon, she gave her parents a hug, according to Sarmiento.
However, she was not informed of her parents’ passing.
