Six Dead in Mid-Air Helicopter Collision Over Rio de Janeiro

Mid-Air Collision Claims Six Lives

American singer-songwriter Oliver Tree, 32, and five others were killed Sunday, June 14, 2026, when two charter helicopters collided in midair over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to the Los Angeles Times and local Brazilian media, one aircraft subsequently crashed into a car dealership parking lot, igniting approximately 20 parked vehicles. Bystanders near the dealership sustained minor injuries; no ground fatalities were reported.

Among the deceased was Argentinian YouTuber and influencer Gaspar "Gaspi" Prim. The flight carrying Tree was reportedly operated by Star VIP, a Brazilian charter service offering VIP transfers and scenic flights over Rio. Aviation analysts identify the primary aircraft involved as a Bell 206 JetRanger, a light single-engine turbine helicopter widely used for tourism and utility operations in the region.

Investigation Under Way

Brazil's Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) has opened a formal investigation, and civil police have launched a parallel criminal and technical inquiry examining possible pilot error, operational violations and air-traffic coordination failures. Investigators are reviewing ATC recordings, flight plans, GPS tracks, maintenance records and pilot licensing history. Preliminary reports indicate both helicopters were operating under visual flight rules (VFR) and converged at similar altitudes. Despite generally good visual meteorological conditions, analysts suggest haze or sun angle may have degraded the pilots' ability to spot and avoid converging traffic in Rio's busy helicopter corridor. No emergency airworthiness directives have been issued for the Bell 206 fleet; regulators are treating the event as a midair separation issue rather than a design defect.

Aftermath

Oliver Tree's management and label confirmed his death and asked for privacy for his family. Upcoming tour dates, including a planned European leg in Portugal, are being canceled or postponed indefinitely. Separately, authorities cautioned the public that a dramatic helicopter crash video circulating widely on social media was misattributed and does not depict the Rio collision.