A Sunday afternoon in Rio de Janeiro suddenly turned into a scene of tragedy when two helicopters collided in mid-air and crashed near an electric car dealership.
The first reports were fragmented: rescuers spoke of six people dead, debris scattered hundreds of meters away, and flames engulfing dozens of cars nearby.
The detail that drew the most attention was the mayor’s statement about foreign nationals on board. Only later did it become clear: one of the passengers was an artist whose songs had been heard by millions.
Media later reported that American singer Oliver Tree was among the victims of the crash. He was 32 years old. For fans, the news was especially shocking because less than 24 hours before the tragedy, he had posted a video from Brazil, writing about his first trip to the country.
The crash happened in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood. According to preliminary information, one helicopter came down in the parking lot of a car dealership, where electric vehicles caught fire. The second aircraft was found roughly a hundred meters away. Investigators are still reconstructing the exact sequence of events using videos, recordings, and debris from the scene.
In addition to Oliver Tree, the victims have been identified as Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, known as Gaspi, Lucas Vignale, Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.
Investigators are working to determine what caused the collision. Fire officials noted that the fact the aircraft crashed into a parking area, rather than the nearby residential buildings, may have prevented an even greater tragedy. Images from the scene showed thick black smoke, damaged cars, and helicopter wreckage scattered among the vehicles.
Oliver Tree was a native of Santa Cruz, California. He was known not only for his music, but also for his eccentric style, unusual hairstyles, and music videos that spread quickly across social media. His songs Life Goes On and Miss You brought him global recognition.
His career rose rapidly after he signed with Atlantic Records in 2017. His debut album, Ugly is Beautiful, was released in 2020, and in April 2026 he presented Love You Madly Hate You Badly. At the time of the tragedy, he was in the middle of a world tour.
After the news broke, social media filled with posts from fans, musicians, and creators. Many wrote that they could not believe the artist was gone, especially after he had shared travel footage just a day earlier. For listeners, he will remain a voice of the era of short videos, memes, and unforgettable songs.
