Two Helicopters Collide Over Rio de Janeiro, Killing American Singer Oliver Tree and Argentine Content Creator Gaspi

Two helicopters collided in midair over Rio de Janeiro's Recreio dos Bandeirantes district, killing six people including American musician Oliver Tree and Argentine content creator Gaspi. The aircraft fell onto a vehicle storage facility operated by electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, igniting approximately 20 parked cars and triggering secondary explosions visible for kilometers. Emergency services responded at 8:59 a.m. local time to manage the incident.

Victims and Identities

Oliver Tree, 32, was a North American artist with nearly 20 million social media followers and more than 11 million monthly listeners on streaming platforms. His most recognized tracks, "Life Goes On" and "Miss You," accumulated over 700 million combined plays. Tree was in Rio de Janeiro as part of a worldwide tour and had performed in São Paulo on June 6, with European dates scheduled to begin in Lisbon on July 13.

Gaspar Prim Díaz, known professionally as Gaspi, was an Argentine content creator with approximately 7.5 million social media followers. He gained international recognition in 2025 through participation in "La Velada del Año V," a boxing event featuring content creators organized by Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos in Seville. Gaspi was known for street-interview content and distinctive verbal mannerisms that defined his online presence.

The pilot of one helicopter was Charles Marsillac, described by associates as experienced and dedicated to aviation safety. Colleagues noted his serious professionalism and family-centered values. In addition to piloting, Marsillac maintained an interest in music, regularly posting performances and musical clips on social media. He is survived by a spouse.

Collision and Impact

The Eurocopter AS 350 B2 (Squirrel model) carrying Tree, Gaspi, and other passengers exploded upon impact with the ground. The Bell 206B, piloted by Marsillac, impacted the facility with its landing gear inverted and did not ignite immediately. According to preliminary investigation by the Rio de Janeiro Fire Department, the two aircraft collided in the sky before descending into the vehicle yard located at the intersection of Avenida das Américas with Rua Beth Lago and Rua Rivadávia Campos.

The storage facility occupies property previously belonging to an abandoned church. Wreckage dispersed across a radius exceeding 100 meters, with structural components including a tail section landing on a neighboring building's rooftop. The impact and resulting fires destroyed or severely damaged approximately 20 electric vehicles, with flames spreading rapidly among the parked units. The smoke column was visible across multiple kilometers of the city.

The Rio de Janeiro Civil Police assumed investigative authority through the 42nd Police District (Recreio dos Bandeirantes). Technical analysis has been requested, with ongoing emergency response support from the Fire Department, Traffic Engineering Company, and municipal cleanup services.