A mother and father died in the crash as they jumped out of the balloon to escape the fire (Photo: EPA/Getty/Facebook)

A couple died and their teenage daughter was seriously injured after jumping out of a hot air balloon when it caught fire.

Jose Nolasco, 50, and his wife Viridiana Becerril, 39, died after the accident near the pre-Hispanic ruins of Teotihuacan, north of Mexico City.

Their daughter Regina Itzani, 13, is in hospital with a broken arm and second-degree burns but is expected to survive.

The family posed for a selfie just before the hot air balloon caught fire, and the ride turned out to be a surprise birthday gift organized for Viridiana by Regina and her father.

Three people were also injured and the pilot of the balloon has yet to be found (Photo: EPA)

Two people died and a girl was injured after the hot air balloon they were in caught fire near Mexico City

Jose Nolasco, 50, and his wife Viridiana Becerril, 39, were killed in the crash

Reyna Gloria Sarmiento, Regina’s grandmother, told local press that the teenager had not yet learned that her parents had passed away.

She added: “It was my daughter Viridiana’s birthday, Regina’s mother, and they prepared this ride as a surprise for her.”

Gloria said her granddaughter was “conscious” and stable in the hospital and also revealed she hugged her parents before jumping out of the hot air balloon.

Footage of the tragedy, captured by a bystander, showed the hot air balloon deflating as flames engulfed the basket enjoyed by the Mexican family.

The viewer was heard saying in Spanish, “My God, people are falling,” while a person fell to the ground.”

It wasn’t immediately clear if that person was Regina or the hot air balloon pilot who was said to be the second person to jump out of the basket when it burst into flames.

epa10554626 Forensic scientists work in the area where a hot air balloon caught fire and collapsed in the municipality of San Juan Teotihuacan, Mexican state, Mexico on April 1, 2023. At least two people were killed and three were injured after a fire caused a hot air balloon to collapse in the municipality of San Juan Teotihuacán, in the state of Mexico, adjacent to the capital, in the center of the country, authorities reported. EPA/Alex Cruz

Forensic scientists at the scene of the balloon crash in Mexico (Photo: EPA)

Two people died and a girl was injured after the hot air balloon they were riding caught fire near Mexico City https://twitter.com/c4jimenez/status/1642203408185671680

The balloon basket could be seen ablaze in the air

His whereabouts would be unknown.

An investigation into the tragedy is underway. According to initial local reports, it could be related to a fault in the fuel storage system.

City officials in Caujimalpa de Morelos, west of Mexico City, where the family is from, said in a statement: “We extend our condolences to the family, friends and acquaintances of Jose Nolasco and Viridiana Becerril, who died in the hot air balloon tragedy. life came Teotihuacan.

“Our solidarity and prayers are with Regina and we wish her a speedy recovery.”

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