Oliver Tree, 32, among six killed after two helicopters collide over Rio de Janeiro
American singer Oliver Tree has died at 32 in a mid-air helicopter collision over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, with five other people also killed when the aircraft crashed onto a car dealership parking lot.
What happened
Two helicopters collided in the air above the Recreio dos Bandeirantes district of Rio de Janeiro on the morning of 14 June 2026. The aircraft then fell onto a car dealership parking lot, where a fire broke out and damaged at least 20 vehicles. Images broadcast by local media showed a large column of black smoke and multiple vehicles ablaze.
The exact circumstances of the accident are not yet known.
One helicopter was found engulfed in flames among electric vehicles with five people inside. The second helicopter came down about 100 metres away, carrying only its pilot, who also died.
The victims
Six people lost their lives: American singer Oliver Tree Nickel (also reported as Oliver Tree Nickell), passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim and Lucas Brito Chaves, and the pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac. Rio de Janeiro police confirmed Tree was on the passenger manifest, and CNN Brazil later verified he was on board.
Foreign nationals were aboard one of the two helicopters.
Authorities cautioned that formal identification has not yet been completed; severe burns from the crash are complicating body recognition.
A career cut short
Born on 29 June 1993 in Santa Cruz, California, Oliver Tree first gained attention in 2016 with the eccentric "Turbo" persona, marked by a bowl-cut hairstyle and an 80s-inspired visual style. He built a massive online following (nearly 20 million social-media followers, according to Brazilian reports) and signed with Atlantic Records in 2017. His debut album Ugly Is Beautiful arrived in 2020, and later releases included Cowboy Tears (2022) and Alone in a Crowd (2023). Earlier this year he issued his fourth LP, Love You Madly Hate You Badly, independently on his own Alien Boy Records.
Tour and recent movements
Tree was in Brazil as part of his Oliver Tree World's First World Tour. The South American leg began on 30 May in Mexico; his final concert was on 6 June in São Paulo. European dates were scheduled for July, with a Lisbon show set for 13 July.
- World tour begins in Mexico
- Final concert in São Paulo
- Helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro
- Scheduled Lisbon concert (now cancelled)
Investigation underway
Brazilian air force investigators have started collecting data and preserving evidence. A fire department spokesperson said the collision’s exact causes are still unclear. According to Brazil’s Cenipa aeronautical body, 153 aircraft accidents were recorded in the country in 2025, leaving 62 dead.
