Six dead in Brazil helicopter crash after two choppers collide mid-air over Rio de Janeiro

15 Jun 2026 • 3:22 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Six dead in Brazil helicopter crash after two choppers collide mid-air over Rio de Janeiro

  • Six people died Sunday morning in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, following a mid-air collision involving two helicopters.
  • American musician and comedian Oliver Tree, 32, is feared dead after being named on the passenger list for one of the helicopters, though officials have not yet identified the bodies.
  • After the mid-air collision, one of the helicopters crashed onto a car dealership, causing a fire among parked electric vehicles that was later extinguished by firefighters.
  • TMZ and CNN Brazil reported that Tree was onboard and died in the crash, but representatives for the singer-songwriter did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
  • An official investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact cause of the fatal helicopter collision.

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