Colombian influencer Sofia Murillo has died after she was involved in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was 17.
Murillo was with her mother, Wendy Manrique, and her grandmother, Rocio Cubillos, while riding in a four-seat helicopter with local tour agency Voo Rio Panorâmico near scenic outlook Vista Chinesa on Saturday, August 8, before the aircraft reportedly crashed into a wooded area and exploded, according to local outlet g1. The pilot, Alessandro Rocha, also died in the accident.
Military personnel were called to the scene, where fire spread throughout the wooded hillside as a result of the crash.
“The biggest challenge for the teams right now is access, both to enter and exit the site. The aircraft crashed in a very steep, wooded area with precipitous cliffs, where it is only possible to work using rope techniques and safety equipment,” Lieutenant Colonel Fábio Contreiras told g1 in a statement, translated from Portuguese to English. “When we arrived, in addition to the helicopter, there was also a fire caused by the explosion of the aircraft’s fuel. That fire has now been completely extinguished.”
The message concluded, “Now, our challenge is to find faster access routes to facilitate the work of the Civil Police and Cenipa forensics teams, as well as the future removal of the bodies. We are working to make this happen as soon as possible, preferably today.”
Murillo’s uncle Victor Manrique told the local outlet that he was on vacation in Brazil with the three women, his wife and their 15-year-old daughter prior to the deadly incident. The family had booked a 20-minute scenic helicopter ride to see the Christ the Redeemer statue from the sky, g1 reported. While Murillo, Wendy, and Cubillos boarded the initial flight at 11 a.m. local time on Saturday, the other three family members waited in the hangar for a second aircraft.
A lawyer for helicopter company Voo Rio Panorâmico reportedly shared in a statement to the press that it had yet to uncover a cause for the crash. The lawyer added that the company had permits to operate at the time and in the area, the aircraft’s maintenance was up-to-date and the pilot was licensed to fly, per g1.
Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police and Brazilian Air Force have reportedly opened investigations into the incident, per CNN Brasil.
Murillo, who had more than 200,000 TikTok followers, was known for sharing her beauty tips online. Her last post on the platform was seemingly shared on Wednesday, August 5, showing her at the gym. The comments section of the video has since featured tributes to Murillo.
“Rest in peace angel 💕,” one user wrote, translated to English, while another added, “I’m going to miss your tips, Sofi. You were one of the few who managed to boost my self-esteem with your advice. I’m going to miss you so much 🤍.”
