The man falls into death after being dangled with the burning of hot air balloon

During the first balloon festival at the Enrique Estrada Fair 2025 in Zacatecas, Mexico, there was a tragic accident when a hot air balloon caught fire on Sunday (May 11th). A 40-year-old man identified as Luicio Nfell into death after he had heroically saved two passengers out of the burning balloon. The incident was recorded on video and shows how Luicio was involved in a rope when the balloon rose, whereby flames swallow the basket above it.

The balloon caught fire on the floor and prompted Luicio to bring passengers to safety. However, when the balloon took off, it was caught in his ropes and brought into the air before he fell into death. The two passengers were treated in a nearby hospital due to the first degree burns.

The General Secretary of Zacatecas, Rodrigo Reyes Mugüerzaconfirmed the incident and called for stricter security controls during festivals to prevent future tragedies. He said: “We asked the public prosecutor to carry out the corresponding investigations in order to clarify the facts and reveal responsibility.”

According to reports, the balloon operator jumped out of the burning aircraft after taking it. Although the plane has passed previous security checks, there are questions about the cause of the fire and potential security losses.

Luicios bravery triggered an admiration on social media, with many praising his selfless action. The incident underlines the rare but serious risks associated with hot air ballooning, since the authorities continue to examine the cause of the fire.