Singer Oliver Tree dies in Rio helicopter crash

The international music scene mourns the loss of American singer Oliver Tree, who died at 32 in a tragic helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro. The accident, which occurred in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes area, claimed at least six lives.

Tree, whose real name was Oliver Tree Nickel, was in Brazil for his "The World’s First World Tour." Just hours before the fatal crash, he had shared content on social media from Rio, including a video with influencer Thiago Alcântara. The artist, boasting over 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify, was actively expanding his global tour, having performed in São Paulo on June 6 and with upcoming dates scheduled in Europe.

Among the victims were Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim (known online as Gaspi), Lucas Brito Chaves, and the pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac. The death of Gaspar Prim, a popular Argentine content creator with millions of followers, drew significant attention. Both pilots were described as highly experienced aviation instructors by Rio de Janeiro's mayor, Eduardo Cavaliere.

Security camera footage from the area is being analyzed by aeronautical accident investigators from the Brazilian Air Force's Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (Cenipa). The exact cause of the mid-air collision remains under investigation.