Safety · Rio de Janeiro
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.
AI text based on reports by SIC Notícias, SAPO, Al Jazeera Online and other publishers. Changed . How it is made
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In brief
Two helicopters collided mid-air at 8:59 a.m. local time on Sunday, June 14, in Rio de Janeiro's Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighbourhood, killing all six on board.
Among the dead is Oliver Tree, a 32-year-old American singer and comedian. Also killed were three other passengers and the two pilots.
One helicopter crashed into a dealership parking lot, destroying about 20 electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries complicated the firefighting effort, requiring large volumes of water.
The cause of the collision is unknown. Brazil recorded 84 aircraft accidents in 2026 before this incident, with 25 deaths.
- 14 JunTwo helicopters collide mid-air, one crashes onto an electric car dealership parking lot.
- 14 JunSecond helicopter falls about 100 metres away.
- 14 JunBlaze brought under control by firefighters.
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.
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Sources and context
- SIC NotíciasColisão entre dois helicópteros no Rio de Janeiro faz pelo menos seis mortos
- SAPOColisão entre dois helicópteros provoca seis mortos no Rio de Janeiro
- Al Jazeera OnlineSix people killed as helicopters collide over Brazil's Rio de Janeiro
- Lidovky.czV Brazílii se srazily dva vrtulníky, zahynulo nejméně šest lidí
- Oliver Tree
- American singer and comedian, passenger in one helicopter, died in the crash
- Fabio Contreiras
- Spokesman for the Rio de Janeiro Military Fire Department
- Eduardo Cavaliere
- Mayor of Rio de Janeiro
- Lucas Vignale
- Passenger in one helicopter, died in the crash
- Gaspar Prim
- Passenger in one helicopter, died in the crash
- Lucas Brito Chaves
- Passenger in one helicopter, died in the crash
- Alexandre Souza
- Pilot of one helicopter, died in the crash
- Charles Marsillac
- Pilot of one helicopter, died in the crash
- Places
- Rio de Janeiro
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