Rick, of the duo Rick & Renner, was on board the helicopter that went missing in Santa Catarina, representatives confirm

Representatives for singer Rick, of the duo Rick & Renner, confirmed that the artist was on board the helicopter that lost contact this Monday (21) in the Santa Catarina mountain region. Traveling with him were businessman and speaker Bruno Avelar, Avelar’s ​​videographer, and the pilot. As of this report's deadline, there was no confirmation of a crash or an emergency signal activation. Search operations are ongoing.

The aircraft is a Bell 430 with registration PP-MGR, owned by JTA Empreendimentos e Urbanismo. The company stated that the aircraft had been lent to Avelar and Rick, who are "close friends of the owner." DECEA (Department of Airspace Control), part of the Brazilian Air Force, reported that the helicopter took off from Porto Belo, on the northern coast, and failed to reach its destination. Reports from representatives and fire departments indicate a departure from the Costa Esmeralda/Balneário Camboriú area heading toward São Joaquim; some accounts also mention Criciúma. Contact with air traffic control was reportedly lost around 3:00 PM. Before boarding, Rick had posted on social media about a meeting with Avelar and Avelar’s ​​wife, journalist Lívia Avelar.

The Santa Catarina Military Fire Department is focusing its operation on two locations about 30 km apart: Vacas Gordas, in Urubici—the initial site identified as a possible crash location, where nothing was found—and the area where one of the occupants' cell phones emitted its last signal, near São Joaquim. About 20 personnel are operating 4x4 vehicles. Overcast skies, rain, strong winds, and a hail warning are hampering efforts. If the aircraft is not located tonight, teams will return on Tuesday with a search dog. Lieutenant Colonel Eloísa, of the 5th Battalion, described the first location as the site of the last radio communication.

Geraldo Antônio de Carvalho—known as Rick—was born in 1966 and, alongside Renner, formed one of the most popular *sertanejo* duos of the 1990s, with hits such as “Ela é Demais” and “Nos Bares da Cidade.” Bruno Avelar, 41, is the mentor behind the “O Poder do Network” (The Power of Networking) project and frequently appears alongside celebrities, including Neymar Jr. Rick’s representatives have asked that people refrain from sharing speculation and that official updates be sourced only from the office's channels.