Fact Check: "Only 13 out of 21 passengers survived the balloon disaster."
What We Know
The claim that "only 13 out of 21 passengers survived the balloon disaster" is inaccurate. In the tragic incident that occurred on February 26, 2013, near Luxor, Egypt, a hot air balloon crashed, resulting in the deaths of 19 out of the 21 individuals on board. The balloon was carrying 20 passengers and a pilot when a fire broke out due to a leaking gas fuel system, leading to the balloon's deflation and subsequent crash (Wikipedia).
Of the 21 people on board, only two individuals survived the initial crash: the pilot and one passenger. Unfortunately, the passenger who survived later died in the hospital, leaving only one survivor from the incident (New York Times).
Analysis
The claim appears to be a confusion with a separate incident involving a hot air balloon in Brazil, where 13 out of 21 passengers survived after a crash (BBC). This incident is unrelated to the Luxor disaster.
The Luxor balloon crash is documented as the deadliest hot air balloon accident in history, with 19 fatalities, which is corroborated by multiple reliable sources, including news articles and Wikipedia (Wikipedia, New York Times). The details surrounding the crash, including the cause and the number of survivors, have been extensively reported and investigated, making the sources credible and reliable.
In contrast, the Brazilian incident, which occurred later, involved a different set of circumstances and should not be conflated with the Luxor crash. The confusion likely arises from the similar nature of both events but they are distinct occurrences with different outcomes.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that "only 13 out of 21 passengers survived the balloon disaster" is false. The Luxor balloon crash resulted in 19 fatalities, with only one survivor remaining after the incident. The mention of 13 survivors pertains to a separate, unrelated balloon accident in Brazil.
