Mid-air collision of two helicopters in Rio de Janeiro kills all six aboard, including singer Oliver Tree
Two helicopters collided over Recreio dos Bandeirantes on Sunday morning, crashing in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro. All six people on board died, including American singer Oliver Tree, and one aircraft set a car dealership ablaze.
What happened
Two helicopters collided in mid-air at around 8:59 a.m. local time over the neighbourhood of Recreio dos Bandeirantes in Rio de Janeiro. One helicopter crashed onto the parking lot of an electric car dealership, causing a fire and explosion that destroyed about 20 vehicles. The second aircraft fell roughly 100 metres away and did not catch fire. All six people aboard both aircraft died; there were no survivors. The blaze was brought under control by 10:00 a.m.
Victims
One helicopter carried four passengers and a pilot; the other carried only its pilot. Among those on board was 32-year-old American singer Oliver Tree, who was touring Brazil and had been scheduled to perform in Lisbon on July 1. The other victims were Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim, Lucas Brito Chaves (passengers) and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac. Authorities identified those aboard from the passenger manifest, as the bodies were burned beyond immediate visual recognition. Rio de Janeiro's mayor Eduardo Cavaliere said foreign nationals were aboard but did not provide further details.
Firefighting effort
Fire brigade spokesman Fabio Contreiras said the lithium-ion batteries in the electric vehicles made the blaze far harder to fight, requiring several times the water of an ordinary car fire and releasing highly toxic gases. Despite the dangers, firefighters managed to control the blaze within about an hour. Contreiras noted that debris was scattered over hundreds of metres, striking nearby residential and commercial buildings.
Investigation and context
Authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the collision, which remains unknown. Data from Brazil's Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) show that, prior to this crash, there had been 84 aircraft accidents in the country so far in 2026, resulting in 25 fatalities. Helicopter accidents are relatively common in Brazil.
- Two helicopters collide mid-air, one crashes onto an electric car dealership parking lot.
- Second helicopter falls about 100 metres away.
- Blaze brought under control by firefighters.
