ArtistDirect News
Oliver Tree, 32, Dies in Rio de Janeiro Helicopter Collision
On the morning of June 14, 2026, a mid‑air collision over Rio de Janeiro’s Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood sent shockwaves through the music world. The accident, which unfolded above Avenida das Américas, claimed the lives of six people, including American singer‑songwriter Oliver Tree, 32. The crash also ignited a blaze that set roughly twenty parked cars ablaze in a nearby electric‑vehicle yard.
The incident occurred early in the day when two helicopters, one carrying Tree and four passengers and the other a single pilot, struck each other in the sky. Firefighters arrived minutes later to find the impact site a tangle of twisted metal and shattered glass, with the wreckage crashing into the vehicle yard below. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro confirmed the fatalities and identified the victims as Oliver Tree Nickel, Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim, Lucas Brito Chaves, Alexandre Souza, and Charles Marsillac. Prim, who performed online as Gaspi, was a popular Argentine YouTuber with nearly 7.5 million followers.
The 42nd Police District in Recreio dos Bandeirantes is leading the investigation, while Brazil’s Air Force has dispatched its Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) to conduct the initial inquiry. The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) has also announced that it is examining the circumstances involving the aircraft and pilots. At this time, authorities have confirmed the six fatalities and are continuing their inquiry into the cause of the collision. No further information about the aircraft models or flight plans has been released.
Tree had arrived in Brazil as part of the world tour that began in October 2023 in support of his third studio album, Alone in a Crowd. He performed in São Paulo on June 6 and was slated to play in Lisbon, Portugal, on July 13, marking the start of the European leg of the tour. His last Instagram post, shared on Saturday the 13th, showed him in a studio with other artists, hinting at new material in the works.
Oliver Tree’s career began with the viral single “When I’m Down” in 2017, after which he signed to Atlantic Records. He released his debut studio album, Ugly Is Beautiful, on July 17, 2020, and followed it with Cowboy Tears (February 18, 2022), Alone in a Crowd (September 29, 2023), and Love You Madly Hate You Badly (April 24, 2026). His music has accumulated more than 700 million streams on Spotify and commands over 11 million monthly listeners. Industry observers note that Tree’s distinctive visual style and genre‑crossing collaborations made him a recognizable figure in the EDM community. His work has appeared on playlists across multiple streaming platforms, and he has performed with notable producers and DJs.
The tragedy has sparked a review of helicopter traffic regulations in Rio de Janeiro’s southwest zone, where Recreio dos Bandeirantes is located. The neighborhood, known for its residential character and proximity to the city center, has seen increased traffic from both private and commercial aircraft. The incident underscores the risks associated with aerial transport in densely populated urban areas.
The music community and the public await the findings of the investigation, which will determine whether operational or regulatory factors contributed to the tragedy. At present, authorities have confirmed the six fatalities and are continuing their inquiry into the cause of the collision.
The incident occurred early in the day when two helicopters, one carrying Tree and four passengers and the other a single pilot, struck each other in the sky. Firefighters arrived minutes later to find the impact site a tangle of twisted metal and shattered glass, with the wreckage crashing into the vehicle yard below. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro confirmed the fatalities and identified the victims as Oliver Tree Nickel, Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim, Lucas Brito Chaves, Alexandre Souza, and Charles Marsillac. Prim, who performed online as Gaspi, was a popular Argentine YouTuber with nearly 7.5 million followers.
The 42nd Police District in Recreio dos Bandeirantes is leading the investigation, while Brazil’s Air Force has dispatched its Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) to conduct the initial inquiry. The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) has also announced that it is examining the circumstances involving the aircraft and pilots. At this time, authorities have confirmed the six fatalities and are continuing their inquiry into the cause of the collision. No further information about the aircraft models or flight plans has been released.
Tree had arrived in Brazil as part of the world tour that began in October 2023 in support of his third studio album, Alone in a Crowd. He performed in São Paulo on June 6 and was slated to play in Lisbon, Portugal, on July 13, marking the start of the European leg of the tour. His last Instagram post, shared on Saturday the 13th, showed him in a studio with other artists, hinting at new material in the works.
Oliver Tree’s career began with the viral single “When I’m Down” in 2017, after which he signed to Atlantic Records. He released his debut studio album, Ugly Is Beautiful, on July 17, 2020, and followed it with Cowboy Tears (February 18, 2022), Alone in a Crowd (September 29, 2023), and Love You Madly Hate You Badly (April 24, 2026). His music has accumulated more than 700 million streams on Spotify and commands over 11 million monthly listeners. Industry observers note that Tree’s distinctive visual style and genre‑crossing collaborations made him a recognizable figure in the EDM community. His work has appeared on playlists across multiple streaming platforms, and he has performed with notable producers and DJs.
The tragedy has sparked a review of helicopter traffic regulations in Rio de Janeiro’s southwest zone, where Recreio dos Bandeirantes is located. The neighborhood, known for its residential character and proximity to the city center, has seen increased traffic from both private and commercial aircraft. The incident underscores the risks associated with aerial transport in densely populated urban areas.
The music community and the public await the findings of the investigation, which will determine whether operational or regulatory factors contributed to the tragedy. At present, authorities have confirmed the six fatalities and are continuing their inquiry into the cause of the collision.