The helicopter crash that killed singer Oliver Tree and five others may have been caused by human error, according to a Rio de Janeiro police investigator. Alan Luxardo, the lead investigator, told reporters at the crash site on Monday that authorities are exploring whether air traffic controllers or one of the pilots was responsible for the midair collision.
The Crash
The tragedy occurred when two helicopters collided above an electric vehicle yard in Rio de Janeiro. Oliver Tree, along with director Lucas Vignale, Argentinian YouTuber Gaspar Prim (known as Gaspi), DJ and producer Lucas Frota, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac, were on board. One helicopter carried the singer and his group with a single pilot, while the other had just one pilot. The collision killed all six individuals.
Investigation
Police have opened a forensic inquiry, and other official bodies are conducting investigations. Luxardo emphasized that human error is a leading possibility. Witnesses reported seeing one helicopter in flames after the collision, and one passenger reportedly jumped from the other aircraft before it hit the ground. Tyre repair worker Fernandes de Freitas described the scene as terrifying and horrifying.
Oliver Tree's Tour
Tree, 32, was in Rio de Janeiro as part of a world tour that included stops in Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, and Spain. He had performed in São Paulo just days before his death and was scheduled to resume performing on July 1 in Lisbon, Portugal. The singer, known for hits like Miss You and Life Goes On, had also shared a comical video of himself playing soccer in a Brazilian neighborhood shortly before the crash.
Tributes
His ex-girlfriend, singer Melanie Martinez, paid tribute on Instagram, describing herself as an absolute wreck. She recalled Tree's dedication to his art, his contagious laugh, and his childlike wonder. She wrote, Rest in peace Oliver. I know you're making the angels giggle.
The Brazilian Air Force confirmed that investigators from the Third Regional Service for Investigation and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents were called to the scene to carry out initial actions, including data collection, evidence preservation, and damage verification.
