On the morning of June 14, two helicopters collided over Rio de Janeiro, resulting in the deaths of six individuals, including American singer Oliver Tree and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim. The incident occurred above a parking area for electric vehicles, where approximately 20 cars caught fire following the crash, as reported by CNN Brasil.
The Brazilian police confirmed the death of the 32-year-old artist, Oliver Tree, who was traveling with five others in one helicopter, while the second helicopter was piloted by Charles Marsillac, who was flying alone. The victims included passengers Lucas Viñale, Gaspar Prim, and Lucas Brito Chaves, along with pilot Alexandre Souza.
Oliver Tree, known for his significant social media presence with nearly 20 million followers, was in Rio as part of his world tour. He had performed in São Paulo on June 6 and was scheduled to begin the European leg of his tour in Lisbon on July 1. His music has garnered over 700 million streams on platforms like Spotify, with popular tracks such as “Life Goes On” and “Miss You” attracting substantial listener engagement.
Gaspar Prim, recognized as the YouTuber Gasp, was also among the deceased, having amassed nearly 7.5 million subscribers. He was reportedly traveling with Oliver Tree at the time of the accident. Another victim, Brazilian music producer Lucas Brito Chaves, known as “Lucas Frota,” had been accompanying the singer in recent days and resided in Miami.
Charles Marsillac, the pilot of the second helicopter, was described by acquaintances as experienced and serious, with a passion for music. He is survived by his wife and three children.
In 2024, Oliver Tree faced controversy for his participation in the Russian festival Park Live, which took place in September in Kazakhstan and was sponsored by the sanctioned Russian company Yandex. Following this, on July 12, 2024, the organizers canceled his concert in Vilnius, citing concerns over his upcoming performance at the festival. The organizing company, 8 Days A Week, stated that despite discussions, the artist’s team refused to withdraw from the event.
Oliver Tree had previously visited Russia several times and expressed a desire to live there before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, although he publicly opposed the war.
A collision between two helicopters in Rio de Janeiro resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including prominent figures Oliver Tree and Gaspar Prim. The incident has raised questions about safety in aerial travel and the implications of high-profile events.