Read on the GuardianUS Musician Oliver Tree Killed in Brazil Helicopter Crash
American alternative singer and internet personality Oliver Tree has tragically died at the age of 32 in a mid-air helicopter collision over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The crash, which occurred on Sunday morning, claimed the lives of all six individuals onboard the two aircraft. Officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident, which also involved an Argentine video director and a Brazilian music producer. The news has sent shockwaves through the music and online communities.
The American musician and internet personality Oliver Tree has tragically died at the age of 32 following a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The incident occurred on Sunday morning when two helicopters collided mid-air over the city's western suburb of Recreio dos Bandeirantes.
According to reports from several Brazilian media outlets and a police source cited by AFP, all six people on board the two aircraft were killed. One of the helicopters, carrying five people, crashed into the parking lot of an electric car dealership, igniting a fire that was extinguished by local firefighters. The second helicopter was carrying only the pilot. The Rio de Janeiro military fire department confirmed that no survivors were found at the scene.
Oliver Tree, known for his distinctive bowl haircut and eccentric internet persona, was in Brazil as part of his extensive world tour. The alternative singer, whose real name is Oliver Tree Nickell, was scheduled to perform over 70 shows across 30 countries on seven continents. His most recent performance was in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 4 June. He had shared a video on Instagram just a day before the crash, showing him playing football in a Brazilian neighborhood.
The passengers alongside Tree reportedly included a Brazilian music producer, an Argentine video director, and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, known online as Gaspi. Officials have stated that formal identification of the victims is pending due to the severe burns sustained in the crash. An investigation is now underway to determine the exact cause of the mid-air collision.
Tree rose to fame with songs like Life Goes On, Miss You, and Alien Boy. He boasted more than 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with his top songs streamed over 700 million times. In 2024, he was nominated for the International Song Brit Award alongside German producer Robin Schulz for their track Miss You, which peaked at No. 3 on the UK singles chart. Beyond music, he also held a Guinness World Record for the largest kick scooter, standing at 4.16 meters tall.
