Helicopter crash in Rio de Janeiro takes the lives of singer Oliver Tree and five other people
The collision between two helicopters resulted in the death of half a dozen people this Sunday morning (14), in the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighborhood, located in the west zone of the capital of Rio de Janeiro. The Civil Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro confirmed that the American musician Oliver Tree was among those killed in the tragedy.
Official data from the incident indicate that one of the aircraft was carrying five occupants at the time of the collision. The second aerial vehicle was driven only by a commander, who also did not survive the impact in the air.
Official identification of the occupants killed in the Rio tragedy
The state’s public security agencies released the complete list with the names of all the individuals who died in the disaster:
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- Oliver Tree Nickel – passenger
- Lucas Vignale – passenger
- Gaspar Prim – passenger
- Lucas Brito Chaves – passenger
- Alexandre Souza – pilot
- Charles Marsillac – pilot
The North American vocalist accumulated a gigantic fan base on the internet, totaling approximately 20 million admirers on his official profiles. His visit to Brazilian territory was part of a schedule of international shows, which included a performance in the city of São Paulo on June 6th. The artist’s next destination would be the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, where he would begin his tour of Europe on July 1st.
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Recognized for viral hits such as “Life Goes On”, the composer recorded more than 11 million monthly hits on the Spotify platform, consolidating tracks that broke the barrier of 700 million global plays. The final update on his Instagram account took place on Saturday (13), showing the pop star in a musical recording environment accompanied by professional colleagues.
Commander Charles Marsillac, who operated one of the accident helicopters alone, had an impeccable professional record. People linked to aviation told the CNN Brasil report that he was an extremely capable and focused aviator, which makes the dynamics of the collision even more complex for investigators.
Material damage and mobilization of rescue teams on Avenida das Américas
The wreckage of the equipment fell directly onto a commercial parking lot dedicated to electric cars, located on the busy Avenida das Américas. The impact with the ground generated intense flames that spread quickly, completely destroying around two dozen cars that were parked at the scene.
The first surveys carried out by the Fire Department indicate that physical contact between the two flying machines took place at full altitude, a region frequently used as a route for panoramic and executive flights on the Rio coast. The situation on the ground demanded an urgent response from rescuers to contain the fire and isolate the twisted parts.
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The investigation to determine criminal responsibilities was opened by the 42nd Police Station, based in the neighborhood where the incident occurred. Civil Police investigators requested detailed expert examinations of the impact area, seeking to understand the sequence of events that culminated in the air disaster.
The work to contain and clean the road remains active, combining the efforts of several public institutions. In addition to soldiers from the Fire Department, agents from the Traffic Engineering Company, Comlurb employees and police officers from the 31st Military Police Battalion work together to guarantee perimeter security.
The command of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) declared that its experts were immediately dispatched to the crash zone. In this primary stage, technicians apply rigorous protocols to collect parts, protect material evidence and measure the initial damage caused by the double impact.
The Aeronautical Accident Investigation and Prevention Center (CENIPA) took on the technical leadership of the case. Also this Sunday (14), agents assigned to the Third Regional Service for the Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (SERIPA III) began analyzing the flight records and documentation of the helicopters identified by the prefixes PP-MAC and PR-DJJ.
This launch procedure requires the use of precision tools by federal experts, aiming to validate trajectories, protect fundamental mechanical components and map the dispersion of the debris. All this material will serve as the basis for the final report on the incident.
The National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) issued a note of condolence regarding the fatal episode. The regulatory body highlighted that it has already started checking the captains’ licenses and the vehicles’ airworthiness certificates, leaving the investigation into the reasons for the crash to be the sole responsibility of Cenipa.
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When offering solidarity to the relatives of the dead, Anac took the opportunity to issue a warning to users of private air transport. The institution stressed that it is essential to check the operating status of air taxi companies and the validity of maintenance before contracting any flight service.
