US musician Oliver Tree, 32, was killed in a helicopter collision in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday, along with five others — the accident occurred in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes area of the city, according to multiple sources including CNN Brazil and The Hollywood Reporter. Tree was on a world tour and had performed in São Paulo just days earlier.

Tour and Career Highlights

Tree, whose full name is Oliver Tree Nickell, was known for his eccentric persona and hit songs such as ‘Life Goes On,’ ‘Miss You,’ and ‘Alien Boy.’ He had more than 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with his top songs collectively listened to more than 700 million times. He was due to play more than 70 shows across 30 countries on his world tour, which included a scheduled concert in Munich, Germany, on September 12.

Tree rose to fame in 2016 through Vine with his alter ego ‘Turbo,’ characterized by a distinctive bowl haircut and an eccentric style. In 2020, he broke the Guinness World Record for the largest kick scooter, a 4.16-meter-tall and 3.13-meter-long machine, which he said was meant to fulfill a lifelong dream. He was also nominated for the international song Brit award in 2024 for ‘Miss You,’ which peaked at number three in the UK singles chart.

Accident Details and Victims

According to t-online and other reports, the two helicopters collided in mid-air over Recreio dos Bandeirantes. One helicopter carried Tree and four others, including Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim, Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilot Alexandre Souza. The second helicopter was piloted by Charles Marsillac, who was alone aboard. All six individuals were killed in the crash.

Gaspar Prim, known as ‘Gaspi,’ was a 23-year-old Argentine YouTuber who had amassed millions of views with his viral content. He and Tree were both supporters of the anti-bullying organization Bullying Sin Fronteras. After the collision, both helicopters crashed into a vehicle lot belonging to BYD, an electric car manufacturer. At least 20 cars caught fire, and images of dense black smoke were broadcast by Brazilian television networks.

Timeline and Aftermath

Tree had performed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 4 and had posted a video on Instagram playing football in a Brazilian neighborhood just days before the crash. He was born on June 29, 1993, and would have turned 33 on June 29, 2026. The cause of the collision is still under investigation. The Civil Police in Rio de Janeiro and aviation authorities are examining flight records and video footage from the area to determine what led to the crash.

Tree’s manager had not responded to The Hollywood Reporter’s request for comment at the time of publication. Fans and fellow artists have taken to social media to express their grief, with many highlighting how his music had impacted their lives. He released four studio albums with Atlantic Records and an independent album under his earlier moniker ‘Tree’ in 2013.