Event
On 28 April 2024, at sunrise (06:37 local time), a hot air balloon with registration PH-GVL took off from a field near Monsaraz, Évora, Portugal. The balloon, operated by Passageiros do Vento, carried a pilot and 13 passengers on a commercial tourist flight with an expected duration of one to one and a half hours. Another balloon from the same operator followed closely, having taken off from the same location.
Flight Details
After about one and a half hours of flight in a southeasterly direction, the pilot began the final descent near the M517 municipal road, attempting to find a suitable landing site close to the ground crew. Unable to locate an appropriate area, the pilot regained altitude and overflew the operator's other balloon, which had already initiated landing procedures in the planned area.
At approximately 08:15 local time, the pilot started an approach to land the balloon before the northern shore (Mourão bank) of the water body formed by the Alcarrache stream branch of the Alqueva dam reservoir. According to the pilot, the balloon was being dragged by the wind toward the water. Given the limited remaining fuel, the pilot decided to ditch in a shoal of the estuary.
Passenger Egress
The balloon basket touched the water surface a few meters from the shore. The pilot asked passengers for two or three men to exit the basket to drag it ashore. Passengers hesitated due to the unforeseen situation. With the balloon still drifting away from the riverbank and a few centimeters of water inside the basket, two passengers positioned themselves on the outer edge. After a couple of minutes of indecision, the pilot insisted that these two passengers jump into the water.
When the balloon was in deeper waters, approximately 20 meters from the shore, one passenger jumped into the water. Upon his departure, the balloon began a slight upward movement, causing the second passenger to hesitate and remain inside. Shortly after, the basket briefly touched the water again.
Aftermath
The pilot, realizing he could not counteract the drifting, decided to take off again to attempt a landing on the southern bank. The passenger who had left the basket tried to swim to the northern shore, initially the planned landing point. A witness reported seeing the passenger swim backstroke near the shore. At approximately 08:37 local time, a passenger on the balloon sent a message to the operator (pilot of the second balloon) with the approximate location of the passenger who had exited. The operator's ground team later recovered the passenger, who was found deceased in the water near the attempted landing and subsequent ditching.
The balloon continued flying for about 30 more minutes over the river area and southern bank, landing safely at 08:51 local time in an olive grove near Vila dos Grous, with the pilot and 12 passengers, with no additional problems reported. The other balloon from the same operator ended its flight uneventfully on the northern bank as planned. According to collected testimonies, occupants of both balloons ended the flight with a celebration ceremony, unaware of the passenger's fate. Other balloons from another operator were also operating in the area without reported difficulties.
Investigation
The GPIAAF was notified at 11:28 by the operator and proceeded to collect evidence. The investigation gathered additional information from the operator and judicial authorities to support the evaluation of the occurrence.