Oliver Tree, the Bay Area born singer behind viral hits such as "Life Goes On," was reportedly among six people killed when two helicopters collided and crashed over Rio de Janeiro yesterday. The collision sent wreckage and fire across the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood in the city’s west zone, and emergency crews said there were no survivors on board. Tree was 32.
Two helicopters collided in midair and crashed in the city’s western zone, killing all six people aboard, and one slammed into a car-dealership lot where several electric vehicles caught fire, according to The Associated Press. Police provided investigators with a passenger manifest that included Tree’s name, but authorities at the scene said they had not completed formal identifications of the bodies. Firefighters and local police closed streets and worked through the morning to secure the crash site and preserve evidence.
Brazilian media and investigators later named those aboard, and CNN Brasil reported that Rio Civil Police confirmed Tree’s inclusion on the passenger list and identified the other victims, including Argentine creator Gaspar "Gaspi" Prim Dedaz. Local reporting said five people were aboard one of the helicopters while the other carried only a pilot, and there were no survivors. Authorities asked anyone with video of the incident to turn it over to investigators.
Tree, born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California, had been on an international tour and had played São Paulo earlier this month, with European dates scheduled to begin in Portugal in July, according to coverage. The performer, known for a blend of alt-pop, cinematic videos and an attention-grabbing stage persona, quickly became the focus of online tributes as news of the crash spread. Fans shared clips, concert memories and artwork in his honor.
Investigation underway
Brazil’s air-accident investigators at the Centro de Investigação e Prevenção de Acidentes Aeronáuticos, known as CENIPA, were dispatched to the scene and have launched a formal probe, and the National Civil Aviation Agency is reviewing the aircraft records, per Jovem Pan. Early reports identified the aircraft by registration as PP-MAC and PR-DJJ and said one of the helicopters had departed from Angra dos Reis. Investigators said they will analyze flight plans, maintenance logs and video evidence as part of the inquiry.
Scene and response
Firefighters said they were called just before 9 AM, and local reporting said one helicopter exploded on impact and the flames spread to dozens of parked electric vehicles before crews brought the blazes under control. Jornal Passaporte reported the crash occurred near Avenida das Américas at the block with Rua Beth Lago and Rua Rivadávia Campos in Recreio dos Bandeirantes. City emergency services isolated the area to protect residents and to allow investigators to process the wreckage.
Fans and colleagues react
Messages of shock and grief poured in on social platforms as fans and fellow artists shared memories from his shows, and streaming platforms and peers posted tributes as the news spread worldwide. International outlets tracked the outpouring and the abrupt halt to Tree’s scheduled dates, while publications noted the investigation was ongoing. Officials urged people not to speculate and to avoid sharing unverified videos while authorities complete their work, and investigators continue to ask witnesses to come forward with footage and information that may help reconstruct the sequence of events.
.jpg){kind=link}