Hope fading for ballooning priest

Brazil’s air force suspended its search for a Roman Catholic priest who vanished after sailing into the air under 1,000 colorful balloons. His family chartered a plane to continue the hunt and the navy was searching with a helicopter and two boats.

The Rev. Adelir Antonio de Carli has been missing since Sunday, when he lifted off from the port city of Paranagua wearing a helmet, a thermal flight suit, waterproof coveralls and a parachute.

Jose Carlos Bom, a member of De Carli’s technical support team, said the priest could be well if on land, but “if he is still out in the ocean somewhere, I am afraid the chances that he is alive are almost zero.”