"Massive Loss": Brazilian Influencer Sofia Murillo Dies With Mom and Grandma in Helicopter Crash

• Sofia Murillo, a teen influencer with over 250,000 followers, boarded a sightseeing helicopter in Rio de Janeiro with her mother and grandmother
• The helicopter went down in a remote wooded area and burst into flames, killing all four people on board, including the pilot
• The family had split into two groups due to passenger limits, and Sofia's uncle and cousins were still waiting at the hangar when news of the crash broke

A 17-year-old Brazilian social media influencer, her mother and her grandmother were killed on Saturday, 10 August, when the sightseeing helicopter they were travelling in crashed and caught fire in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

According to a report by TMZ, Sofia Murillo had built a following of more than 250,000 across Instagram and TikTok, where she posted beauty tips and cosmetic reviews. She had been on holiday in Brazil with her family when they booked a 20-minute scenic flight to view the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.

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Her mother, Wendy Manrique, and grandmother, Rocio Cubillos, joined her on the flight. Pilot Alessandro Rocha was also aboard. None of them survived.

Family split into two groups before the crash.

Because the helicopter could only accommodate three passengers, the family arranged to travel in separate groups. Sofia, her mother and grandmother took off first at around 11 AM. Her uncle, his wife and their 15-year-old daughter stayed behind at the hangar, waiting for their turn.

They learned about the crash not from emergency services but from news reports while they were still waiting.

The aircraft came down in a dense, wooded area and burst into flames, making it extremely difficult for rescue teams to reach the site. Sofia's final post online had gone up just three days before the crash.

The tour company has since stated that the helicopter's maintenance was up to date, that the business held the required operating permits and that the pilot was properly licensed. An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.

Second fatal Helicopter crash in Rio in weeks

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The tragedy follows the death of musician Oliver Tree, who was killed in a helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro less than two months earlier.

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People react online

The news prompted an outpouring of grief and disbelief on TMZ's page:

@chloescoldworld wrote:

"It's wild how one random flight ends three generations of the same family at once. 17 hits different when you remember being that age and thinking the world's still wide open. Ground feels safer today for sure."

@ChiraqAvenger said:

"This is why I'm never getting on a plane or helicopter ever in my life. First Kobe, then Oliver Tree and now her... Nope, I'm good on the ground."

@denverblondy shared:

"Oh my, so young, so sad. What is up with all of these creators that die so young tragically? So incredibly sad."

@jammerfanWX wrote:

"First Kobe then Oliver then Sofia. What is up with Brazil helicopters?"

@finstahbegreat added:

"It's heartbreaking all of these young influencers are perishing so young. RIP."

@Edvinng said:

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"OMG! This is really sad. That's a massive loss."

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Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News