Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1310 EAT on Monday 15 June 2026

The 32-year-old musician was on a world tour when the collision occurred over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. One of the helicopters crashed into the car park of a dealership, setting around 20 vehicles on fire.

Footage released by Brazilian media showed one of the aircraft falling from the sky, followed by flames and thick smoke rising from the crash site.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collision. The Military Fire Department of the State of Rio de Janeiro said emergency teams were called to the scene at around 09:00 local time (12:00 GMT).

Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim Diaz, known online as Gaspi, was also believed to have been aboard one of the helicopters, according to the Associated Press.

The passenger manifest for one aircraft listed Lucas Brito Chaves, Lucas Vignale and pilot Alexandre Souza, while the second helicopter’s crew manifest named only pilot Charles Marsillac.

Tree — born Oliver Tree Nickell in Santa Cruz, California, in 1993 — rose to international fame in 2016 after gaining attention through viral social media posts.
Recognised for his distinctive bowl haircut and eccentric style, he became known for hit songs including Life Goes On, Miss You and Alien Boy.

The musician had recently begun a world tour, with his latest performance taking place in São Paulo, Brazil, on 6 June. He was scheduled to continue the tour in Lisbon, Portugal, on 1 July before heading to Glasgow, Manchester and London in September.

Tributes poured in from fellow artists and entertainers following news of his death. YouTuber and musician KSI, who collaborated with Tree on the track Voices, shared an emotional tribute on X.
“Can’t believe I’m actually having to type this. You’re 32 man. You should still be here. You still had so much life to live. So much music to make. So much content to make,” KSI wrote.

“You’re a legend and will always be a legend. Still doesn’t feel real. Genuinely feel sick. I love you bro.”

Jackass star Steve-O, whose real name is Stephen Glover, also paid tribute, sharing a photograph of the pair together online.

“I was incredibly lucky to become friends with Oliver Tree,” he wrote. “He would check in on me regularly, and let me know he cared about how I was doing. Such a great person… I’m going to miss him.”

Tree was nominated for a Brit Award in 2024 for his song Miss You, alongside German producer Robin Schulz.

In 2020, he also earned a Guinness World Record for creating the largest kick scooter, measuring 4.16 metres tall and 3.13 metres long.

-BBC

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