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Sofia Murillo cause of death: What happened to the Colombian influencer who died in Brazil helicopter crash?
Colombian beauty influencer Sofia Murillo, 17, died alongside her mother, grandmother and the pilot after a sightseeing helicopter crashed in Rio de Janeiro.
Colombian influencer Sofia Murillo, known for her beauty and skincare content on TikTok and Instagram, has died after a sightseeing helicopter crashed into a wooded hillside in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was 17.
Murillo was traveling with her mother, Wendy Manrique, 37, and grandmother, Rocio Cubillos, 59. The helicopter went down near Vista Chinesa, a scenic overlook inside Tijuca National Park, on August 8.
The pilot, Alessandro Rocha, also died in the crash.
What happened to Sofia Murillo?
According to Brazilian media, Murillo and her family were visiting Rio de Janeiro on vacation from Colombia. They had booked a scenic helicopter ride to view landmarks including Christ the Redeemer from the air.
The four-seat helicopter, operated by Voo Rio Panorâmico, departed around 11 am local time. Shortly afterwards, it crashed into a forested area near Vista Chinesa in Alto da Boa Vista.
The impact sparked a fire that spread across the hillside. Firefighters responded at approximately 11:11 am. But rescue operations proved difficult because of the rugged terrain. Military personnel later helped contain the fire.
Murillo's uncle, Victor Manrique, told Brazilian media outlet g1 that he, his wife and their 15-year-old daughter had planned to board a second helicopter after the first flight returned.
Instead, the family learned about the crash through news reports while still waiting at the airport.
"They were supposed to return after a 20-minute sightseeing flight," family members told local media.
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Investigation underway as fans mourn influencer
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the helicopter to crash.
Brazil's Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) and Rio de Janeiro Civil Police are investigating the incident.
According to g1, a lawyer representing Voo Rio Panorâmico said the helicopter company had all required operating permits, the aircraft's maintenance was current, and the pilot held the appropriate licences.
The investigation is still in its early stages, g1 reported.
Murillo had built a following of more than 250,000 across Instagram and TikTok, where she regularly shared makeup tutorials, skincare recommendations and beauty product reviews.
Her last TikTok post came on August 5, three days before the crash. She uploaded a TikTok video showing part of her gym workout routine.
On August 1, Sofia posted her makeup routine on Instagram. After news of her death spread, thousands of followers returned to her social media pages to leave messages of grief. “So young and full of potential to grow in life, it's really very sad,” one follower wrote.
"I'm going to miss your tips. You helped boost my self-esteem," another fan commented under her last TikTok post.
