Hot Air Balloon Explodes in Mexico on Mom's Birthday... Only Daughter Survives

Parents Deceased... Surviving Daughter with Fractures and Second-Degree Burns

In Mexico, a family of three who took a hot air balloon ride together to celebrate their mother's birthday experienced a tragic accident when the balloon exploded and crashed. The couple died in the accident, and only their teenage daughter survived.

According to foreign media including the New York Post in the U.S. and Metro in the U.K. on the 2nd (local time), a family in Mexico was caught in a hot air balloon explosion on the 1st, resulting in the deaths of father Jose Norlasco (50) and mother Viridana Becerril (39), while their daughter Regina Ichani (13) was injured. A video capturing the moment of the accident spread on social networking services (SNS), deepening the sorrow.

The photo is not directly related to the content of the article.

The hot air balloon crash occurred over Teotihuacan, a popular tourist destination in Mexico. The accident began when sudden flames broke out in the balloon basket as they were preparing for flight. The flames quickly engulfed the entire basket, and the cable connecting it to the ground snapped, causing the balloon to soar into the air. The video shows passengers, presumed to be the family involved, jumping out.

Mexican police stated that the surviving teenage daughter Regina jumped from the burning balloon and sustained fractures and second-degree burns but is not in life-threatening condition. The parents ultimately died after the fall.

News that this hot air balloon trip was a surprise birthday gift from the father and daughter for wife Viridana has added to the public’s sadness. The family took a photo together on a cellphone just before the accident occurred.

According to reports, Regina’s grandmother, Reina Sarmiento, said, "It was my daughter Viridana’s birthday, and this ride was prepared as a surprise," adding, "My granddaughter hugged her parents before the fall."

Regina, the only survivor of the hot air balloon crash, is reportedly not yet aware that her parents have passed away.

Local police suspect that the fire originated in the balloon’s fuel storage system and are investigating the detailed circumstances of the incident.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.