Oliver Tree Dies in Helicopter Collision at 32

Mid-Air Collision Claims Six Lives

The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro confirmed that Oliver Tree Nickell was among six people killed when two helicopters collided in mid-air over the coastal neighborhood of Recreio dos Bandeirantes on Sunday morning. The incident occurred in the southwest zone of the city, where one aircraft carried five people while the other carried only its pilot. There were no survivors.

According to preliminary reports from the Rio de Janeiro Fire Department, the two helicopters struck each other mid-flight before plunging into a parking lot below. The impact damaged approximately 20 vehicles and triggered a massive fire that sent thick plumes of smoke over the residential neighborhood.

Electronic Music Collaborator and Chart-Topping Artist

Known for his distinctive bowl haircut and cartoonish wide-leg pants, Nickell was an esteemed collaborator in the electronic dance music space, working with Subtronics, Whethan, Getter, What So Not, Robin Schulz and other prominent DJs. His debut album, 2020's Ugly Is Beautiful, topped a pair of Billboard charts and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

Local authorities identified the other passengers traveling with Nickell as Lucas Vignale, Lucas Brito Chaves and Gaspar Prim, a prominent Argentine YouTuber known online as Gaspi. The pilots of the two aircraft, Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac, were also killed. A source close to Marsillac, who was flying alone at the time of the collision, described him to local media as a very experienced pilot.

Investigation Underway

The Brazilian Air Force announced that investigators from the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents have been deployed to the crash site to preserve evidence and conduct an initial assessment of the disaster. The investigation remains ongoing and forensic specialists are working to determine the cause of the collision. Emergency crews, including traffic engineering and municipal cleaning teams, spent Sunday afternoon isolating the area and clearing the debris.

The musician was in Brazil as part of a major world tour comprising over 70 shows across all seven continents, a run he called the biggest tour of his life back in May. He performed a concert in São Paulo on June 6 and was scheduled to begin the tour's European leg in Lisbon, Portugal on July 13.