Oliver Tree Among 6 Victims in Rio Helicopter Crash — What We Know About All Passengers

What began as a music-filled trip to Brazil ended in tragedy. As investigators work to determine what caused the fatal Rio de Janeiro helicopter collision, attention is turning to the six lives lost — and one haunting statement Oliver Tree made shortly before his death.

Oliver Tree was at a major turning point in his career, with new music, an ambitious world tour, and fresh projects underway. But alongside the headlines about the crash, details about the other victims and Tree's own reflections on life and legacy are adding another layer to the story.

According to PEOPLE, two helicopters collided midair over Recreio dos Bandeirantes in Rio de Janeiro on June 14 before crashing into a vehicle storage yard.

Two Helicopters Collided Over Rio. There Were No Survivors

Among the six victims was Oliver Tree Nickell, known professionally as Oliver Tree, the American singer behind hits including "Life Goes On" and "Miss You."

Who Were the Six People on Board?

Also killed in the crash were Lucas Vignale, Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, and Brazilian DJ and producer Lucas Brito Chaves. While Tree's death drew the most international attention, each of the other victims had a story of their own.

Prim, 23, was a popular Argentine YouTuber known online as Gaspi, according to PEOPLE. He built a large following through comedy and lifestyle content that resonated with audiences across Latin America.

Chaves, better known by his stage name Lucas Frota, had spent nearly a decade living in Los Angeles and built a growing reputation in electronic music, according to CNN Brasil.

Frota began producing music during childhood and later performed at major electronic music festivals, including Burning Man in Nevada.

One of his most notable recent projects was a DJ set recorded at the foot of Christ the Redeemer in December 2025. The producer had more than 41,000 Instagram followers and served as a resident DJ with Miami's Around The Corner collective.

Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac were identified as the pilots involved in the collision, while Vignale was also among the passengers who lost their lives.

Like the others aboard the aircraft, Vignale had recently been celebrating personal and professional milestones.

The Instagram Post Frota Left Hours Before the Crash

In the days before the crash, Tree appeared to be enjoying his first visit to Brazil. A joint Instagram video highlighted in another PEOPLE report was captioned, "An American's first time in Brazil."

The playful clip showed the singer getting a haircut, riding a motorcycle, grilling food, and jokingly referring to himself as Neymar while holding a replica World Cup trophy.

Hours before the tragedy, Frota appeared alongside Tree in an Instagram Reel that also featured another collaborator who was not among the victims. The video showed the musicians celebrating what appeared to be a new project together.

Frota even left a cheerful comment beneath the post just hours before his death, writing, "Se a copa não vier pro brasil pelo menos trouxemos esse hit! 🔥🇧🇷🏆" Translated into English, the message reads, "If the World Cup doesn't come to Brazil, at least we brought this hit! 🔥🇧🇷🏆"

The Career Plans Tree Had Set in Motion Before His Death

One of Tree's final social media posts showed him in a recording session in Brazil. According to more reports, one of his final social media posts showed him participating in a recording session alongside fellow musicians in Brazil.

Behind the group, acoustic wooden sound panels lined the walls, while a music sticker displayed "Miss You," his collaboration with Robin Schulz. Tree stood in the studio wearing his signature bowl haircut and sunglasses as collaborators posed nearby, with the accounts @OLIVERTREE, @IAMLUCASFROTA, and @WAOOFFICIAL tagged in the post.

Only weeks earlier, Tree had announced what he called "The World's First World Tour." The ambitious project would have taken him across more than 30 countries and all seven continents.

"I'm going on 'The World's First World Tour', playing shows on all 7 continents this year. 30+ countries. 70+ shows. Biggest tour of my life," he wrote in the announcement shared on his Instagram.

At the time of his death, Tree had recently performed in São Paulo and was scheduled to continue with dates in Portugal, Spain, Austria, the United States, China, and other countries, according to PEOPLE.

How a Business Student from Santa Cruz Became Oliver Tree

According to a Santa Cruz Sentinel birth announcement, he was born Oliver Tree Nickell to parents Jesse Louis Nickell III and Christine Marie Begin in Santa Cruz, California.

His journey into entertainment was not entirely straightforward. As reported by the Economic Times, Tree studied business at San Francisco State University for two years before ultimately shifting his focus to music and performance art.

That decision eventually helped transform him into one of the internet's most recognizable music personalities. His albums "Ugly Is Beautiful," "Cowboy Tears," "Alone in a Crowd," and most recently "Love You Madly Hate You Badly" built a loyal fan base that stretched far beyond the United States.

Oliver Tree Talked Openly About Polyamory and His Touring Life

Tree was known for speaking openly about topics many celebrities would rather avoid. During an appearance on the Impaulsive podcast, he discussed his dating life and unconventional approach to relationships.

At one point, he remarked, "I mean, I've basically been exploring polyamory, I have a bunch of girlfriends." He explained that his demanding travel schedule and constant touring made it difficult to maintain traditional relationships.

The comment quickly became one of the more widely discussed moments from the interview and reflected the candid public persona that helped make Tree stand out.

The Unusual Decision Oliver Tree Made About His Money Before His Death

During an appearance on The Zach Sang Show, Tree revealed that his family would not inherit his fortune after his death. "I don't believe that any of the wealth or the things that get made from it is mine," he said.

Tree then added, "So when I die — I've set it up — my will is set up that when I pass, my family, no one's going to get a penny."

The singer explained that even a future wife or children would not receive his wealth beyond educational support. Instead, he said he had established a foundation called "Dr. Oliver Tree's Art Grants for Baby Geniuses."

According to the interview highlighted by Entertainment Weekly, Tree intended for future royalties from his music to help fund artists through grants selected by a committee.

At the time, the comments sounded unusual. Following his sudden death, they have taken on an entirely different meaning.

The Cause of the Collision Is Still Under Investigation

For now, authorities are still working to determine exactly what caused the collision. Investigators from Brazil's Air Force and aviation safety agencies continue gathering evidence from the scene as families, friends, and fans mourn the six victims, according to PEOPLE.

What began as a routine day in Rio ended in a devastating accident that claimed six lives. As investigators continue searching for answers, Tree's final days in Brazil — and the unexpected plans he revealed for his fortune after his death — remain among the details drawing the most attention in the wake of the tragedy.