Home / Disasters and Accidents / Influencer, Mother, Grandma Die in Brazil Helicopter Crash
Influencer, Mother, Grandma Die in Brazil Helicopter Crash
10 Aug
Summary
- Three family members died in a helicopter crash in Brazil.
- The victims were an influencer, her mother, and her grandmother.
- The family was waiting for their turn to fly when the crash occurred.
A devastating helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, resulted in the deaths of three family members from different generations, including a prominent teenage influencer. Sofia Murillo, a 17-year-old with over 250,000 followers, was traveling with her mother, Wendy Manrique, and grandmother, Rocio Cubillos. The pilot, Alessandro Rocha, also lost his life in the incident.
The family was on a vacation in Brazil, having booked a 20-minute sightseeing flight to view the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue. Due to the helicopter's limited capacity, they divided into groups. Sofia, her mother, and grandmother departed first around 11 AM. Their remaining family members were at the hangar awaiting their scheduled flight when they heard news of the crash.
The helicopter crashed in a remote, wooded area, erupting in flames and making rescue efforts difficult. The tour company has stated that the helicopter's maintenance was current, the business held the necessary permits, and the pilot was properly licensed. This incident occurred less than two months after another fatal helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro.
