Singer Oliver Tree tragically passed away in a helicopter accident on June 14 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, along with five other individuals.
The music industry is in mourning following the death of singer Oliver Tree, known for hits like "Life Goes On" and "When I’m Done." He died in a helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 14, as confirmed by local Civil Police to CNN Brazil. Tree was 32 years old at the time of the incident.
The crash involved two helicopters that collided while flying over an electric vehicle yard in the southwest zone of Rio, igniting a fire that consumed at least 20 vehicles at the crash site. Alongside Tree, five other individuals lost their lives in the accident: passengers Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim—an Argentinian YouTuber known as Gaspi—and Lucas Brito Chaves, in addition to pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac.
A formal investigation has been initiated to ascertain the cause of the collision, with the Civil Police stating that a forensic examination of the crash scene has been requested.
In response to the tragedy, the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) expressed its condolences. In a statement to CNN Brazil, ANAC acknowledged the air accident involving the two helicopters and indicated that they are investigating the situation of the aircraft and pilots involved. The agency noted that the Center for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) will conduct the investigation into the causes of the crash.
ANAC expressed regret over the incident, extending its sympathies to the families and friends of the victims. They also reminded passengers of general aviation flights to verify the status of companies and aircraft before boarding.
At the time of the accident, Tree was traveling with Vignale, Prim, Chaves, and Souza, while Marsillac was piloting the other helicopter alone. Tree was in South America as part of his tour titled The World’s First World Tour, which had him perform in São Paulo just days before the crash on June 6. He was scheduled to continue the tour in Lisbon, Portugal, on July 13.
Oliver Tree, whose full name was Oliver Tree Nickel, first gained recognition in 2010 through collaborations with techno artists Skrillex and Zeds Dead. He released an independent album in 2013 and achieved significant success with his debut studio album, Ugly Is Beautiful, which was certified gold in the United States in 2020.
Known for his unique fashion sense, Tree had remarked on how his artistic experimentation contributed to his success. In an interview with Billboard in 2023, he reflected on his career, stating, "I’d already spent the bulk of my existence on Earth making music and no one was listening to it. No one cared. And I was like, ‘Wow, this actually working. This is bigger than my music.’" He further noted, "All I did was just show up looking stupid, and I think it’s a mirror that I was setting up of society, and how dumb things have gotten in a lot of ways. But also experimentation is kind of the birth of invention and trying to make something that hasn’t been done a million times."
