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Brazilian authorities intensified search operations on Tuesday for a helicopter that disappeared in Santa Catarina with singer Rick, of the country music duo Rick & Renner, and other passengers on board.
The aircraft, a Bell 430 registered as PP-MGR, departed from Porto Belo bound for São Joaquim but lost contact during the journey on Monday afternoon. So far, there has been no official confirmation of a crash or that the helicopter has been located.
In addition to Rick, businessman Bruno Avelar, videomaker Paulo Soares and the pilot were on board.
Search teams are concentrating their efforts mainly in the mountainous Serra Catarinense region, an area covered by vegetation and difficult to access.
The operation involves the Santa Catarina Military Fire Department and the Brazilian Air Force. The Air Force deployed an H-60 Black Hawk helicopter and an SC-105 Amazonas aircraft, both used in search-and-rescue missions.
Teams are working around at least two areas considered important: the location of the aircraft’s last communication, in the Urubici area, and the point where the last mobile phone signal from one of the occupants was recorded.
The two locations are approximately 30 kilometres apart.
Firefighters reached one of the areas initially identified as a possible crash site but found no trace of the helicopter, prompting authorities to expand the search area.
Bad weather has complicated the operation. Heavy rain, poor visibility, fallen trees and difficult road access have forced teams to adjust their routes and, at times, limited the use of aircraft.
More than 20 firefighters, vehicles, sniffer dogs and drones equipped with thermal cameras are involved in the search.
Renner, Rick’s musical partner, has asked fans to pray for the singer and the other occupants as authorities continue efforts to locate the aircraft and determine what happened to those on board.
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