American singer Oliver Tree killed in helicopter collision over Rio de Janeiro

American singer and internet personality Oliver Tree died Sunday in a helicopter collision over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was 32.

Two helicopters collided mid-air over Recreio dos Bandeirantes in the city's southwestern zone on Sunday morning, killing all six people aboard, according to Rio de Janeiro's Military Fire Department and Brazilian media outlets.

One helicopter crashed in the parking lot of a car dealership where several electric vehicles were parked, igniting a fire that was quickly extinguished. At least 20 vehicles on the ground were damaged in the blaze, authorities said.

Tree was aboard one of the helicopters with four other passengers: Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim (known as Argentine YouTuber Gaspi, 23), Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilot Alexandre Souza. The second helicopter carried only its pilot, Charles Marsillac. According to reports, Marsillac was described as an experienced and highly respected pilot known for taking his profession seriously.

Police said Tree was on the passenger manifest provided to aviation authorities, but officials have not yet been able to identify all the bodies of those killed. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision, fire officials said.

Tree was in Brazil on a world tour at the time of the crash. Born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California, he built a career blending pop, rock, hip-hop, and electronic music, accompanied by an extravagant aesthetic and absurdist humor that became his signature style.

His popularity grew rapidly through social media and streaming platforms. Songs including "Life Goes On," "Miss You," "Alien Boy," and "When I'm Down" accumulated hundreds of millions of streams and made him a recognized figure globally. He first gained prominence in 2010 at age 17 while working with producer Skrillex.

Among those who mourned Tree was influencer Iae Break, who had shared videos from Tree's trip to Brazil in the days before the crash. Break posted a tribute after the collision, writing in Portuguese, "I can't believe you guys are gone."

Argentine YouTuber Gaspi, 23, whose real name was Gaspar Prim, was also among the six killed. Video director Lucas Vignale was likewise a victim of the crash.