Gabrielle Nascimento and Fiancé Tiago Kempinas Survive Deadly Hot Air Balloon Crash in Brazil That Killed Juliana Pereira

A hot air balloon ride in Boituva, São Paulo, Brazil, ended in tragedy. Juliana Pereira, 27, recently married, died after the balloon crashed due to strong winds. The flight was part of a secret operation involving 33 passengers.

Gabrielle Nascimento, 27, and her fiancé, Tiago Kempinas, 37, had traveled seven hours from Rio de Janeiro to Boituva. They planned to enjoy the hot air balloon ride early that Sunday morning. Gabrielle said they boarded the balloon at about 5 a.m. Despite windy conditions, the pilot assured them it was safe to fly until 9 a.m.

The couple, along with other passengers, rose about 328 to 492 feet above the ground. During the flight, Tiago proposed to Gabrielle. She said yes. However, soon after, the wind picked up and the pilot lost control.

The balloon began to move dangerously fast. The pilot tried to land in an orange grove. Four passengers were thrown from the basket as the balloon dragged across a field. The balloon briefly lifted again, but most passengers managed to jump out during a second landing.

Juliana Pereira was badly injured and later died in hospital. Gabrielle described her injuries as severe, including a broken nose and split jaw. She was unconscious and in great pain when paramedics arrived.

In total, 11 passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries. The pilot was also hurt. Authorities later revealed the pilot only had a license for private flights and was not authorized to carry so many passengers.

Juliana’s family expressed deep grief. Her husband, Leandro Pereira, and relatives criticized the pilot and organizers for ignoring the dangerous weather. They called the decision to fly in strong winds careless and negligent.

The pilot was arrested on charges of aggravated manslaughter and illegal balloon operation. Investigations are ongoing.