Helicopter Vanishes in Brazil: Country Singer Rick Sollo Among Four Missing

Disappearance and Flight Details

The aircraft departed from Porto Belo heading toward São Joaquim on Monday afternoon before air traffic control lost contact with the pilot, according to G1 Globo. Musician Rick Sollo, 59, of the country music duo Rick and Renner, was on board alongside influencer Bruno Avelar and videographer Paulo Soares, according to a statement shared on Avelar’s social media channels. A fourth occupant, the pilot, has not yet been publicly named by authorities.

Hours before the disappearance, Sollo shared a video on his Instagram story showing himself boarding and landing an aircraft alongside Avelar. A statement posted to Avelar’s social media noted that there was no official confirmation of an aircraft accident, though a later post mentioned five people on board without identifying a fifth individual.

Search and Rescue Operations in Santa Catarina

The Santa Catarina Fire Department received initial calls regarding a potential aircraft crash at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time on Monday. The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) deployed a Black Hawk military helicopter and an SC-105 Amazonas aircraft to the rural Vacas Gordas area to scan for wreckage, according to the Sapicua Radio Agency.

Lieutenant Colonel Heloisa, commander of the 5th Military Fire Brigade Battalion of Santa Catarina, stated that rescue teams moved to locations indicated by the aircraft’s last communication point and a passenger’s final cell phone signal. Search efforts faced delays as a red weather alert for thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and strong winds up to 100 km/h remained active across Urubici, according to meteorological warnings cited by The Independent. Avelar’s team also issued public appeals urging local residents to report any sightings of smoke, debris, or unusual noises.