How safe are hot air balloons?

[Eddy Current]

I would worry it would deflate up in the air a ways and then just drop. But I don't hear about many accidents with them. I don't think I'd ever care to ride in a hot air balloon.

[Rip Chudd]

Never trusted those things. Looks like a good time but I'll never get in one

[Bundt]

There was a terrible accident a few years back of tourists screaming as they burned alive in their basket when the fuel and burner exploded. People also leapt to their deaths to escape the inferno. It may still be on YouTube.

[NachoMan]

I had long wanted to go on a hot air balloon and finally did so two years ago with my wife and boys. Took an early dawn flight over the Teotihuacan ruins in Mexico. What a great experience. Amazing view, tranquil feeling throughout. The pilot was very skilled, rotating around the tops of several pyramids, but even so, they only have so much control. We landed in a private farmer's nopal (cactus) farm, then celebrated with champagne and mimosas. Great time, highly I recommend it.