In January 2025, a new accident involving a hot air balloon occurred in the municipality of Axapusco, injuring two foreign tourists. This event sparked a national debate on the regulation of the sector, highlighting operational failures and the presence of companies without current certifications or permits to operate tourist flights in the area.
The incident took place on April 15 and adds to a series of accidents that have occurred in the Teotihuacán region. In April 2023, a balloon caught fire mid-flight, resulting in the death of two people and leaving a minor seriously injured during landing maneuvers in San Juan Teotihuacán.
Teotihuacán has become popular in recent years as one of Mexico's favorite destinations for hot air balloon flights, attracting both domestic and international tourists. Despite the frequency of these accidents, the most recent incident involving a balloon that collided with a tree in the archaeological zone resulted in no injuries.
There has been a detection of irregular companies operating without meeting established safety standards, endangering both passengers and the archaeological heritage of the area. These companies do not follow aviation protocols and lack liability insurance, raising concerns among local authorities and the population.
In an interview conducted in January of this year, Samuel expressed his commitment to reducing the incidence of these accidents, although citizens have voiced their discontent, stating that there should not be a single accident if safety regulations in the sector were properly followed.
