Two helicopters collided mid-air over Recreio dos Bandeirantes, a western suburb of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday morning, June 14, 2026, killing all six people aboard both aircraft [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Among the dead was American alt-pop musician Oliver Tree, aged 32, who was on a world tour [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].
One helicopter carried five people: Oliver Tree, Brazilian music producer Alexandre Souza (who also piloted the aircraft), Argentine video director Lucas Vignale, Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim (aka Gaspi), and Lucas Brito Chaves [1, 2, 3, 4, 7]. The second helicopter had one occupant, pilot Charles Marsillac, who also died in the crash [1, 2, 3, 4, 7].
The helicopters crashed onto the parking lot of an electric car dealership, setting fire to about 20 vehicles [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Firefighters struggled to control the blaze due to lithium-ion batteries in the cars, which release toxic gases and intensify flames [3]. The police reported the victims suffered severe burns, and formal identification had not yet been confirmed [2, 3, 4, 7].
Oliver Tree was known for his eccentric style, distinctive bowl haircut, and hits such as "Life Goes On", "Miss You", and "Alien Boy" [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. He had over 11 million monthly Spotify listeners and more than 700 million total streams across his top songs [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Tree had performed in São Paulo on June 6 as part of a world tour planned to cover more than 30 countries, with upcoming dates in Lisbon on July 1 and UK cities including Glasgow, Manchester, and London in September [1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7].
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Authorities are collecting flight recordings and videos to determine what happened, said Lieutenant Colonel Fabio Contreiras of the fire services. He added, "Parts of the aircraft are scattered hundreds of meters away, so the information we have is still very preliminary" [5]. A local employee at a nearby Burger King described hearing a loud explosion and seeing helicopter parts flying through the air [5].
Friends and fellow artists paid tribute to Tree. British rapper KSI wrote, "Can't believe I'm actually having to type this. You're 32 man. You should still be here... You're a legend and will always be a legend. Genuinely feel sick. I love you bro." Stunt performer Steve-O commented, "I was incredibly lucky to become friends with Oliver Tree... Such a great person... I'm going to miss him" [1, 7].
Small aircraft accidents are frequent in Brazil, the world's fifth largest country by area. Prior to this crash, 84 aviation accidents and 25 deaths had occurred in 2026 [3].
Oliver Tree’s next scheduled concert was to be in Lisbon on July 1, part of his ongoing world tour [1, 2, 5, 6, 7]. Authorities continue their investigation into the June 14 crash.
