Two Helicopters Collide in Rio de Janeiro, Six Killed; U.S. Musician Oliver Tree Reportedly Among Passengers

A mid-air collision between two helicopters in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has left six people dead. Initial information from police sources suggests that American singer Oliver Tree may have been among the passengers on board.

The accident occurred on June 14 in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes district, located in the western part of Rio de Janeiro. Both helicopters collided in mid-air, resulting in the deaths of all six people aboard the aircraft.

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Singer, Music Producer, Director, and YouTuber Reportedly on Board

According to the local fire department, the helicopters crashed into the parking lot of an electric vehicle dealership after the collision, igniting a fire that spread to approximately 20 cars.

One helicopter was carrying five passengers, while the second aircraft had only the pilot on board.

Lieutenant Colonel Fabio Contreiras, spokesperson for the fire department, said rescue crews found one helicopter engulfed in flames among the vehicles, with five victims inside. The second helicopter was discovered about 100 meters away, and its sole occupant, the pilot, was also killed.

On June 15, AFP reported that American pop musician Oliver Tree is believed to have been among the passengers on one of the helicopters, citing a source from the investigative police.

The source stated that passenger manifests from the two helicopters indicated Oliver Tree’s name was listed on one of the flights. However, authorities have not yet been able to officially identify the victims because the bodies were severely burned in the crash.

According to the passenger list, those traveling with Oliver Tree included a Brazilian music producer, an Argentine video director, and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, better known online as “Gaspi.”

Earlier, Rio de Janeiro Deputy Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere confirmed that there were “foreign nationals aboard one of the aircraft,” but declined to provide further details.

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Oliver Tree Was Touring Brazil Before the Reported Crash

Oliver Tree, 32, is known for his signature bowl-cut hairstyle and eccentric online persona. He rose to fame through hit songs such as “Life Goes On,” “Miss You,” and “Alien Boy.”

The singer currently attracts more than 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with his most popular tracks surpassing 700 million streams.

Tree is also known for blending music with performance art, often incorporating elaborate pranks, satire, and daring stunts into his videos and social media content.

In recent days, Oliver Tree’s Instagram account featured videos documenting his travels across Brazil. He performed in São Paulo on June 6 as part of an international tour spanning more than 30 countries. His next scheduled performance was set to take place in Lisbon, Portugal, on July 1.

Speaking to CNN at the scene, Lt. Col. Contreiras said investigators still do not know exactly what caused the collision.

Aircraft debris is scattered across hundreds of meters, so the information we have right now is only preliminary. We need to collect flight records and video footage to determine exactly what happened,” Contreiras said.