American singer Oliver Tree and YouTuber Gaspi are among the victims of the helicopter crash that occurred this Sunday in Rio de Janeiro, according to information published by CNN Brasil, which cites confirmation from the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro.
The AP agency also reports that the Police communicated that Oliver Tree appeared on the passenger list provided to aeronautical authorities, although it qualifies that the bodies of the victims had not yet been formally identified at the time of that communication.
The accident left six dead in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood, in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro. The two aircraft collided in mid-flight on Sunday morning and fell into an urban area, also causing a fire in an area where vehicles were parked.
Oliver Tree, on the helicopter passenger list
Information about Oliver Tree became known after Brazilian authorities began identifying the victims of the crash.
CNN Brasil reports that the American singer is among the deceased and attributes this confirmation to the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro. The list published by the Brazilian media includes Oliver Tree as a passenger on one of the aircraft.
AP, on the other hand, maintains a more cautious formulation: the Police reported that Oliver Tree was on the passenger list provided to aeronautical authorities, but the formal identification of the bodies was still pending.
This difference is relevant in breaking news. For now, the solid fact is that Oliver Tree was on the list of the crashed flight and that Brazilian media, citing the Civil Police, place him among the fatalities.
Six dead after the crash of two helicopters
The accident occurred on Sunday morning in Recreio dos Bandeirantes, an area located in the west of Rio de Janeiro.
According to initial data from the authorities, two helicopters collided in the air and ended up crashing to the ground. Five people were traveling in one of the aircraft and only the pilot in the other.
None of the people on board survived. Emergency teams initially located five bodies in one of the aircraft and later found the sixth victim in the second helicopter, which fell about 100 meters from the first impact point.
One of the aircraft caused a fire
After the fall, one of the helicopters impacted an area with parked vehicles and caught fire. The flames affected about 20 cars, according to initial information released by emergency services and Brazilian media.
The impact also scattered fragments of the aircraft into nearby areas, including surrounding buildings. Authorities cordoned off the area while firefighters, the Civil Police, and aeronautical investigation teams worked.
The fire was later controlled, but the area remained under surveillance while initial investigations were carried out.
Who are the victims identified by Brazilian media
CNN Brasil has published a preliminary list of victims based on information attributed to the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro.
According to that list, Oliver Tree, Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim, Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilot Alexandre Souza were traveling in one of the aircraft. Pilot Charles Marsillac was in the second helicopter.
Gaspar Prim has been identified by Brazilian media as the Argentine YouTuber known as Gaspi, with millions of followers on social media.
Full official identification will need to be confirmed by the competent authorities as forensic and police work progresses.
What was Oliver Tree doing in Brazil
Oliver Tree was in Brazil as part of his international musical activities. According to Brazilian media, the artist had recently performed in São Paulo and was continuing with a world tour.
The singer, known for songs like ‘Life Goes On’ and ‘Miss You’, had millions of monthly listeners on music platforms and a strong social media presence.
His name has turned the accident into an international news story, beyond the severity of the air disaster in Rio de Janeiro.
The investigation is in the hands of Brazilian authorities
The causes of the crash are still being investigated. The Brazilian Air Force, through CENIPA, has been mobilized to carry out the initial technical assessments of the accident.
Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency has also reported that it is evaluating the situation of the aircraft and the pilots involved. The Civil Police are keeping the investigation open at the relevant police station in Recreio dos Bandeirantes.
For now, it has not been publicly determined what caused the collision between the two helicopters.