Brazilian Authorities Probe Fatal Midair Helicopter Collision Near Rio de Janeiro

Brazilian officials were examining the wreckage on Monday following a midair collision between two helicopters that killed six people on Sunday over a Rio de Janeiro suburb. The aircraft crashed into the parking lot of a car dealership in the city’s western zone.

Among those listed on the passenger manifest filed with aviation authorities for one of the helicopters was American singer and comedian Oliver Tree, 32. However, police had not yet confirmed his remains were recovered from the crash site. Tree was in Brazil as part of a world tour that included stops in Argentina, Portugal, and Spain, and had posted a video days earlier playing soccer in a Brazilian neighborhood.

Police confirmed the deaths of Argentine content creator Gaspar Prim Díaz — known as “Gaspi” to his 2.8 million YouTube subscribers — and fellow Argentine Lucas Vignale. Three Brazilians were also killed: Lucas Brito, Charles Marsillac, and Alexandre Souza. The identity of the sixth victim, a foreign national, had not yet been released.

Investigator Alan Luxardo of the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police told reporters at the scene that human error may have caused the collision. Authorities are investigating whether air traffic controllers or one of the pilots bears responsibility.

Tributes poured in on social media following news of the crash. Fellow entertainer Jake Paul described Tree as “one of the most kind and funny people in the world.” Travel content creator Drew Binsky, who had spoken with Tree days before the accident, wrote that the singer had sought his travel advice in pursuit of visiting every country and that they had plans to meet in Prague within weeks. “He has become a great friend of mine and is genuinely one of the kindest and most positive people I’ve ever met,” Binsky said.

Argentine streaming channel Blender honored Gaspi in a post on X, stating: “Every one of us will miss you.”

Source link