Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli set out to beat the world record for most hours flying with balloons to raise money for a spiritual rest-stop for truckers in Paranagua, Brazil. The previous record for most house flying by balloons is 19 hours, after take off in his thermal flying suit, the priest must have hit some wind gusts. Eight hours after take off he was reported missing. MSNBC reported that, “rescuers in helicopters and small fishing boats were searching off the coast of Santa Catarina state, where pieces of balloons were found.” De Carli was armed with a GPS device, a satellite phone a buoyant chair and also the knowledge of being an experienced skydiver.
According to Gallas, the priest soared to an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) then descended to about 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) for his planned flight to the city of Dourados, 465 miles (750 kilometers) northwest of his parish.