Rio Helicopter Tragedy
Mid-air helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro kills six, igniting a large fire at an electric vehicle dealership.
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Two helicopters collided in mid-air over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, June 14, 2026, killing all six people on board. Among the dead was American singer and comedian Oliver Tree, 32, who was in Brazil on his "Love You Madly Hate You Badly" world tour, according to Associated Press.
One helicopter crashed into a BYD electric vehicle dealership parking lot in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, setting off a massive fire that destroyed roughly 20 cars. Debris scattered more than 100 meters, with fuselage parts landing on terraces of nearby homes, Anadolu Agency reported.
Six Victims Identified, Including Oliver Tree
The first helicopter carried five people: Oliver Tree, Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim — known as "Gaspi," with over 2.5 million Instagram followers — passengers Lucas Vignale and Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilot Alexandre Souza, according to TMZ. The second helicopter had one person on board: pilot Charles Marsillac, who was the sole occupant.
Oliver Tree had performed in São Paulo on June 6 and was scheduled to play Lisbon on July 1, The FADER reported. His death prompted tributes from music figures including Skrillex and Zeds Dead. Fans noted that his final Instagram story, posted roughly 24 hours before the crash, showed him inside a Brazilian recording studio.
EV Dealership Fire Made Rescue Far Harder
After the crash, firefighters battled a lithium-ion battery blaze unlike a standard fuel fire. Lt. Col. Fabio Contreiras of Rio's Military Fire Department said that putting out a single lithium battery fire requires "three to four times the amount of water" used for internal combustion engines, according to CNN Brasil.
The lot had previously housed a deactivated church. It was recently leased by BYD to store new vehicles, Fox4KC reported. That concentration of batteries in one confined space made the fire far harder to control. Lt. Col. Contreiras noted that because the aircraft hit the parking area rather than nearby homes, "the accident could have been far more tragic."
Rio's Crowded Skies Under Fresh Scrutiny
The crash happened in Barra da Tijuca and Recreio dos Bandeirantes, one of the world's busiest corridors for private helicopter travel. Wealthy residents and celebrities regularly use short helicopter hops to skip Rio's heavy ground traffic. Experts cited by The Rio Times say the routine nature of these flights can lead to complacency in following flight paths.
Residents told The Independent the accident felt like "an inevitability" given how low helicopters routinely fly over the district. Brazil's Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center, known as CENIPA, is expected to review minimum separation rules for private helicopters in the corridor. The Civil Police are also securing flight logs as part of a joint investigation.
Investigation Ongoing as Debate Over EV Fire Safety Grows
Aviation analysts are focused on the second helicopter, which was found upside down roughly 100 meters from the first. That position suggests a catastrophic rotor failure on impact that made recovery impossible, according to The Express Tribune. Investigators are reviewing flight logs and air traffic records to determine why the two aircraft were in the same airspace at the same time.
The destruction of at least 20 BYD vehicles has also reignited a debate in Brazil about fire department readiness for electric cars. India Today noted the incident may shake consumer confidence in EV storage near residential areas. Significant legal battles are also expected between air taxi operators and BYD's insurers over liability for the blaze.
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