Rio Helicopter Crash Fatal
Oliver Tree, YouTuber Gaspar Prim Among Six Killed in Rio Helicopter Crash as Investigation Begins
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Six people are dead after two helicopters collided in mid-air over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 14, 2026, killing American singer Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar "Gaspi" Prim. The wreckage fell into an electric vehicle dealership in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes district, sparking a fire that destroyed nearly 20 cars. Forbes confirmed Tree was 32 years old at the time of his death.
Tree had been in the middle of his "Love You Madly, Hate You Badly" world tour, performing a sold-out show in São Paulo just eight days earlier. Gamereactor reported that Gaspi, whose real name is Gaspar Prim, had over 7.5 million YouTube followers and was a major figure in Spanish-language digital content. No one on either aircraft survived.
Two Helicopters Collide at Dawn Over Western Rio
At approximately 8:58 AM local time, a Eurocopter AS350 B2 (registration PR-DJJ) and a Bell 206B JetRanger III (PP-MAC) struck each other at several hundred meters above the city's western suburbs. The Eurocopter was carrying five passengers, including Tree, Prim, Argentine music video director Lucas Vignale, and Brazilian music producer Lucas Brito Chaves. The Bell 206 carried only its pilot, Charles Marsillac, described by colleagues as "experienced and highly respected," according to TMZ.
Both aircraft went down onto Avenida das Américas, landing in a dealership parking lot full of electric vehicles. The lithium batteries in those cars made the fire far harder to fight. Firefighters arrived by 9:15 AM and took over an hour to bring the blaze under control, The Guardian reported. By 10:30 AM, emergency crews confirmed there were no survivors.
Who Was on Board: Artists, Creators, and Pilots
Oliver Tree, born Oliver Tree Nickell, built a global fanbase with hits like "Life Goes On" and "Miss You." His song "Life Goes On" has over 700 million streams. Gaspi, age 23, was beloved across Latin America for his street comedy and signature "Buenass" greeting. Newsy Today reported that the two were likely collaborating on a content project in the days before the crash.
Also killed were Eurocopter pilot Alexandre Souza and Bell 206 pilot Charles Marsillac. Head Topics identified Lucas Vignale and Lucas Brito Chaves as the remaining passengers, noting Vignale had directed music videos for several of the artists on board. The Civil Police of Rio released the full passenger manifest by 12:45 PM on the day of the crash.
Brazil's Aviation Safety Record Under Fresh Scrutiny
This crash is the 85th aviation accident in Brazil so far in 2026, according to data cited by The Guardian. Investigators from CENIPA — Brazil's Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents — were deployed immediately. The National Civil Aviation Agency, known as ANAC, said it is "investigating the situation of the aircraft and pilots" and expressed "solidarity with the families" of the victims.
Aviation analysts say the collision raises serious questions about a concept called "see-and-avoid" — the basic rule that pilots must spot other aircraft and steer clear. The crash happened around 9:00 AM under what are believed to have been clear conditions. The western Rio zone, including Recreio and nearby Barra da Tijuca, has seen a 15% rise in private helicopter traffic since 2024, adding pressure to already busy low-altitude air corridors.
Global Mourning and a Musical Legacy Left Unfinished
Fans on social media initially struggled to believe the news, with some pointing to Tree's history of elaborate performance art stunts and fake retirements. But official identification and a police manifest released hours after the crash ended all doubt. Forbes noted that Tree was set to begin the European leg of his tour in Lisbon on July 1, a leg that will now never happen.
Industry analysts expect a dramatic surge in streaming. "Life Goes On" alone is projected to see a 300% increase in daily listens in the days following the crash. Gaspi's YouTube channel, which had recently seen renewed popularity through the Blender content network, is expected to become a digital memorial for fans across Argentina and beyond, according to Gamereactor.
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