Five Papantla Flyers fell over ten meters during their traditional dance in the community of El Águila, part of the municipality of Tihuatlán, Veracruz. The accident occurred on the morning of Friday, June 27, during celebrations for a patron saint’s day outside the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church.

The incident happened when the main pole supporting the ritual structure suddenly bent, causing the dancers to fall to the ground. The impact left the flyers with various injuries requiring immediate medical attention.

The accident was captured on video, showing the flyers beginning their descent as usual, but the supporting structure started to sway and eventually collapsed, causing the group to fall toward an area where some attendees were gathered under a tarp.

Subsequent videos circulating on social media show local residents assisting the injured dancers. Ambulances arrived promptly to provide necessary medical treatment. Reports suggest that inadequate safety precautions contributed to the accident.

At approximately 3 p.m., Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle García addressed the incident via her X account, stating: “Regarding the unfortunate accident involving the Papantla flyers in El Águila, Tihuatlán municipality — four of them have fractures and bruises but are in stable condition and hospitalized in Poza Rica; one injured individual is being transferred to a hospital in Veracruz.”

The governor’s statement sparked questions online about the responsibility of the event organizers and local authorities for allowing the performance without sufficient preventive safety measures.

This traditional ceremony, originating from Veracruz, involves significant risk, as flyers climb a tall pole and descend while spinning through the air, secured only by a tether tied to one foot.