An ongoing emergency search involving the Força Aérea Brasileira and local firefighters is underway in Santa Catarina’s mountain region following the disappearance of a Bell 430 helicopter carrying singer Rick, entrepreneur Bruno Avelar, a videomaker, and a pilot after it lost communication on Monday, September 21, 2026.
Singer Rick and Bruno Avelar
Singer Rick, from the sertanejo duo Rick e Renner, and speaker Bruno Avelar are among the passengers of a helicopter that disappeared in Santa Catarina this Monday (09/21). The Military Fire Department of Santa Catarina (CBMSC) informed that searches are underway in the region of Urubici, a mountain area. The helicopter left Porto Belo heading for São Joaquim, both cities in Santa Catarina.
The PP-MGR aircraft from JTA Empreendimento e Urbanismo
The missing aircraft, PP-MGR – Bell 430, belongs to JTA Empreendimento e Urbanismo. In a note, the company confirmed that the helicopter is used by Bruno Avelar and singer Rick. JTA stated that its helicopter, which had been lent for use by Bruno Avelar and singer Rick, close friends of the company’s owner, was currently missing, the company reported. The aircraft, registration PP-MGR, is in normal situation
on the ANAC website, but did not have authorization to perform air taxi services.
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The Brazilian Air Force and the Military Fire Department of Santa Catarina
The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) confirmed that it was called this afternoon to conduct searches for the aircraft that took off from Porto Belo (SC) and did not reach its destination. The Brazilian Air Force stated that the priority of the operation was to locate the aircraft and its occupants in the shortest possible time, concentrating search efforts on the areas of highest probability and continuously adjusting the planning as new information was obtained. The Military Fire Department of Santa Catarina, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), and the Santa Catarina Military Police are conducting searches on the night of this Monday (21). Initially, searches focused on Urubici, in a locality known as Vacas Gordas, pointed as the probable crash site, but the corporation found no traces of the aircraft. In the late afternoon, teams proceeded to the area of the last registered signal, near São Joaquim. The operation is concentrated on two points, about 30 kilometers apart.
Search and Rescue Operations Across the Santa Catarina Mountains
Rescue operations mobilized swiftly on Monday afternoon after the aircraft dropped off radar and communication channels. According to the firefighters, the weather is closed in the region, with rain and gales, including a hail alert. Rick’s press office stated that the helicopter lost communication around 5 PM this Monday, and hours earlier Rick published a video on social networks showing the meeting with entrepreneur Bruno Avelar.
Augusto Cury and Bruno Avelar
A text published on Bruno Avelar’s profile — who is also a campaign advisor for presidential candidate Augusto Cury (Avante) — states that five people are on board and asks residents of the region who have witnessed booms, noises, smoke, flashes, or debris to get in touch. The speaker stated that the aircraft carrying Bruno Avelar, singer Rick from the duo Rick & Renner, videomaker Paulo Soares, and the pilot had lost communication, and that they were closely monitoring the situation at that moment and awaiting further information, adding that there was still no official confirmation of an accident involving the aircraft, as noted in a statement published on the speaker’s social media. The speaker also urged caution, responsibility, and respect for all the occupants and their families at that time, particularly asking that no speculations, rumors, or unconfirmed information be disseminated.
Singer Renner, from the duo with Rick, asked for prayers on the night of this Monday (21) after the disappearance of the helicopter in which his partner was. Lívia Avelar, wife of Bruno Avelar, the entrepreneur missing aboard a helicopter with Rick, from the duo with Renner, asked for prayers amidst the tension of the search for the aircraft. The journalist stated that the emergency device was not activated and therefore believes that her husband is well and safe.