Tragic helicopter news has once again come out of Brazil. Less than two months after Oliver Tree died in a helicopter accident in the country, it’s been reported that a 17-year-old Colombian influencer named Sofia Murillo died in a crash in Rio de Janeiro with her mother, Wendy Manrique, 37, and grandmother, Rocio Cubillos, 59.
According to PEOPLE, the incident took place on August 8th. The beauty influencer was flying in a four-seat helicopter with a local helicopter tour agency near Vista Chinesa when it crashed into a wooded area. The pilot also passed away, bringing the death total to 4.
The family was there on vacation with Sofia’s uncle and Wendy’s brother Victor, his wife, and their 15-year-old daughter. Victor told local outlets the trio had booked the 20-minute scene helicopter ride to see the Christ the Redeemer statue from the sky.
They boarded at 11 a.m., with Victor's family waiting in the hangar, ready to take the second flight. According to the family, they learned about the crash while still at the airport.
Local outlets reported that the fire department responded to the wreckage on Saturday at 11:11 a.m. Due to the nature of the crash site, the efforts were difficult. The fiery wreckage also caused a fire to spread through the wooded area, with military personnel eventually controlling the blaze, according to G1.
© MILITARY FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF RIO DE JANEIROA lawyer for the helicopter company, Voo Rio Panorâmico, told the press that they had not yet determined the cause of the crash. He also assured that the pilot was licensed to fly, and the company had the necessary permits and the aircraft's maintenance was “up to date.”
Rio de Janeiro’s Civil Police and Brazil’s Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center have reportedly opened investigations.
Who was Sofia?
Murillo was based in Bogotá and was finding success at a young age with over 250,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok. Her content surrounded beauty tips and product reviews.
Her last post was on August 5, sharing her leg routine at the gym. Since news broke, her comments have been flooded with grieving fans. “Everything is so sad. You had a perfect, comfortable life,” one person wrote. “Life is so fragile… in one second, you’re no longer here.”
They also highlight the impact the young girl had with her content. “I’m going to miss your tips, Sofi. You were one of the few people who managed to boost my self-esteem with your tips. I’m going to miss you so much,” read one of the most touching comments.
