Two helicopters collided in mid-air over western Rio de Janeiro on Sunday morning, killing all six people aboard both aircraft. American singer Oliver Tree, known for “Life Goes On” and “Alien Boy,” was among the dead. He was 32.

The collision happened over the Recreio dos Bandeirantes neighbourhood in the city’s southwestern zone. One helicopter was carrying five passengers including Tree; the other had only its pilot. Both aircraft came down onto a car dealership parking lot, igniting a fire that burned several electric vehicles before firefighters brought it under control.

The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro confirmed Tree’s identity and listed the other five victims as Lucas Vignale, Gaspar Prim — an Argentinian content creator known as Gaspi with nearly three million YouTube subscribers — Lucas Brito Chaves, and pilots Alexandre Souza and Charles Marsillac. An investigation into the cause of the mid-air collision is underway, and a forensic team has been called to examine the crash site.

Tree, whose legal name was Oliver Tree Nickell, was born in Santa Cruz, California. He spent years building an audience through his genre-blending music and a deliberately exaggerated persona. Bowl-cut hair, oversized suits, and scooter stunts were part of his public image as much as his songs. He had been posting content from Brazil in the days before the crash.

His music sat at the intersection of pop, hip-hop, and rock. “Life Goes On,” released in 2021, became one of his most recognised songs. He followed it with a string of tracks and live shows that drew a devoted international following. Tree had arrived in Brazil ahead of what friends described as a personal trip.

News of his death spread quickly across music platforms and social media. Fans from across the United States, Europe, and Latin America posted tributes through Sunday night. Gaspar Prim, who died alongside him, had a large following of his own in Argentina and across Spanish-speaking countries, making the crash a story that reached several continents at once.

Brazilian aviation authorities said both helicopters were operating legally at the time of the crash. NBC News reported that Brazilian police have launched a full inquiry and are reviewing flight data from both aircraft. No cause has been confirmed. Results of the forensic examination are expected within days.

Tree’s management had not issued a public statement as of Monday morning. Coverage of the crash dominated entertainment news worldwide, with several outlets noting that Tree had recently finished work on a new project. Details about that project have not been released. Fans and artists across multiple genres expressed shock and grief online through Sunday and into the early hours of Monday.