Six people were killed Sunday when two helicopters collided over Rio de Janeiro and crashed in the city's western zone, with authorities listing American singer and comedian Oliver Tree among those aboard both aircraft, according to officials with Brazil's Military Fire Department and aviation authorities.
Background
Rio de Janeiro's Military Fire Department confirmed the collision occurred Sunday morning, sending both aircraft plummeting into a populated area of the city. One helicopter crashed onto the parking lot of a car dealership where several electric vehicles were parked, igniting a fire that crews quickly extinguished. The other aircraft came down nearby in the western zone of the Brazilian metropolis.
Officials with Brazil's aviation authority provided a passenger manifest to police listing Oliver Tree among the six individuals aboard both aircraft. However, investigators have been unable to positively identify the bodies recovered from the wreckage, complicating efforts to confirm the singer's death through official means.
Oliver Tree had performed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 4, just days before the crash. On Saturday, he published a video on his Instagram account showing him playing soccer in a neighborhood in Brazil, confirming his presence in the country ahead of Sunday's collision.
The Investigation
Rio de Janeiro police and aviation authorities have launched a joint investigation to determine what caused the midair collision. Officials said Sunday that efforts to identify the victims' remains are ongoing, with forensic teams working to match bodies to the passenger manifest provided by aviation officials.
A tire repair worker named Fernandes de Freitas witnessed the crash from the ground below. He told reporters he observed one helicopter in flames following the impact and noted that a passenger appeared to have jumped from the second aircraft before it struck the ground. "It was terrifying, absolutely horrifying," De Freitas said of the scene.
Aviation investigators are examining wreckage from both helicopters to reconstruct the moments leading up to the collision. Authorities have not released information about the pilots or operators of either aircraft, and it remains unclear what type of flight plans were filed or whether air traffic control communications played a role in the incident.
Key Takeaways
- Two helicopters collided over Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning, killing all six people aboard both aircraft
- American singer Oliver Tree was listed among the passengers by aviation authorities, though his death has not been officially confirmed through body identification
- One helicopter crashed onto a car dealership parking lot, igniting a fire that firefighters extinguished
- A witness reported seeing one helicopter in flames and observed a passenger jump from an aircraft before impact
- Brazilian authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the midair collision
What's Next
Aviation and police investigators will continue examining the crash site and wreckage to determine what caused the two helicopters to collide. Forensic teams are working to identify all six victims, a process that could take days depending on the condition of remains recovered from the wreckage.
Authorities have not announced any timeline for releasing information about the investigation's findings or confirming the identities of those killed in the crash.
Oliver Tree, known for blending comedy with music and maintaining an eccentric public persona, has accumulated millions of followers across social media platforms. His management team had not issued a statement as of Sunday afternoon.