Luxor Hot Air Balloon Tragedy: 19 Dead, 300-Foot Jump to Escape Fire

• On February 26, 2013, a hot air balloon caught fire before landing in Luxor, Egypt, resulting in 19 deaths out of 21 tourists.
• The accident, one of the deadliest in aviation history, saw a tourist jump from 300 feet to survive, while the pilot also fell/jumped.
• Investigation revealed a leak in an old fuel line (in use since 2005) connected to the burner as the cause of the fire.
• The incident raised serious questions about Egypt's tourism and aviation safety standards, with allegations of relaxed inspections.
• The tragedy severely impacted Egypt's tourism industry, leading to temporary suspension of balloon flights and subsequent stricter safety regulations.