Beauty influencer Sofia Murillo, 17, has died alongside her mother and grandmother after a sightseeing helicopter crashed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during a family holiday.
Murillo, her mother Wendy Manrique, 37, and grandmother Rocio Cubillos, 59, were among four people who died in the helicopter accident on Saturday, August 8. The pilot, identified as Alessandro Rocha, also died in the crash.
The tragic incident has left the Colombian family devastated and sparked renewed questions about the safety of tourist helicopter flights.
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Sofia Murillo died during family sightseeing trip
The Robinson R44 helicopter was operated by a local company offering scenic flights to tourists visiting Rio de Janeiro.
According to reports, the aircraft took off from Jacarepaguá Airport and was travelling toward some of the city’s popular tourist attractions when the accident occurred near Vista Chinesa in the Alto da Boa Vista area.
The helicopter crashed in a densely forested part of the area, making access to the site difficult for emergency responders.
Firefighters and rescue teams worked through challenging terrain to reach the aircraft and recover those on board.
Brazilian aviation authorities have since begun investigating what caused the accident.
Family had travelled to Brazil for celebration
Sofia and her relatives were visiting Brazil as part of a family holiday.
The Colombian family of six had reportedly travelled to the country to celebrate a relative’s 15th birthday. During their stay, they visited several famous attractions, including Christ the Redeemer and the coastline around Búzios.
Because the helicopter could only accommodate three passengers at a time, the family had to split into two groups for the sightseeing experience.
Sofia, her mother and grandmother boarded the first flight while the other three relatives remained at the airport waiting for their turn.
The family reportedly became concerned when communication with their relatives stopped and they heard that there might have been an emergency involving the helicopter.
They later learned about the accident through news reports.
Family remembers Sofia as hardworking
Sofia had built a growing online audience through her beauty and lifestyle content.
The 17-year-old regularly shared makeup tips, hair tutorials and skincare-related content with her followers.
She reportedly had more than 208,000 followers on TikTok and almost 50,000 followers on Instagram, making her a popular young creator among beauty and lifestyle audiences.
Her family has described her as hardworking, studious and ambitious.
Her uncle Victor Manrique, who had been waiting at the airport with other relatives, paid tribute to the three family members.
He expressed his love for his mother, sister and niece while describing the loss as devastating for the entire family.
Victor also said that the family had been happy during their holiday and hoped Sofia and her relatives had enjoyed their final moments together.
Investigation into helicopter crash begins
Brazilian aviation investigators are now working alongside civil authorities to determine what caused the helicopter to crash.
The aircraft was reportedly certified and authorised to conduct scenic flights.
Investigators are expected to examine the helicopter’s maintenance history, flight information, weather conditions and other factors that could help explain what happened.
Authorities will also review information from witnesses and any available records connected to the flight.
At this stage, the precise cause of the accident has not been established.
The investigation could take time as officials work to establish the sequence of events leading to the crash.
Colombian authorities offer assistance
The Colombian government has expressed condolences following the deaths and is assisting the family through its diplomatic representatives in Brazil.
The tragedy has also attracted attention in Colombia because of the young influencer’s growing social media following.
For Sofia’s followers, news of her death has been particularly difficult because of her age and her promising presence online.
Her social media accounts had documented her interest in beauty, fashion and lifestyle content, giving followers a glimpse into her life and ambitions.
A devastating end to a family holiday
The helicopter trip was intended to be one of the memorable experiences of the family’s visit to Brazil.
Instead, the sightseeing flight ended in tragedy, leaving relatives mourning three generations of the same family.
The other family members who had been waiting for their turn on the second flight were spared from the accident.
The tragedy serves as a reminder of the risks that can accompany sightseeing flights and the importance of rigorous aviation safety standards.
As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the crash, Sofia’s family and followers are remembering a young woman whose life and online career were cut tragically short.
Her relatives are now focused on bringing the family members home and supporting one another through the difficult period.
The investigation by Brazil’s aviation authorities is expected to provide further information about the circumstances surrounding the crash as officials work to determine what went wrong.
Further information about Brazil’s aviation accident investigations is available through CENIPA, Brazil’s Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center.
