Authorities in Brazil were back at the crash site Monday after a deadly midair collision between two helicopters over a suburb of Rio de Janeiro left six people dead a day earlier.
Investigators said one of the aircraft went down in the parking lot of a car dealership. Among the names listed on the passenger manifest submitted to aviation authorities for that helicopter was American singer Oliver Tree. Police, however, said they had not yet confirmed that his body was among those recovered from the wreckage.
Officials did confirm the deaths of Gaspar Prim Díaz, the Argentine content creator known as Gaspi, who had more than 2.8 million YouTube followers; fellow Argentine Lucas Vignale; and three Brazilians: Lucas Brito, Charles Marsillac and Alexandre Souza. Authorities said one foreign victim had not yet been identified.
Speaking to reporters at the scene on Monday, Rio de Janeiro police investigator Alan Luxardo said human error may have played a role in the collision. He said investigators are examining whether responsibility lies with one of the pilots or with air traffic control.
Tree, 32, had been in Rio during a world tour that included appearances in Argentina, Brazil, Portugal and Spain. A day before the crash, the singer and comedian posted a lighthearted video showing him playing soccer in a Brazilian neighborhood.
As news of the crash spread Sunday, tributes began appearing online. Among those paying homage was Jake Paul, the fight promoter known for his high-profile bouts against professional boxers, who described Tree as “one of the most kind and funny people in the world.”
Drew Binsky, a content creator known for visiting every country in the world, wrote on Instagram that Tree had come to him for travel advice because the singer also wanted to visit every country.
“We just spoke a few days ago and I was planning to show him around Prague in three weeks,” Binsky wrote. “He has become a great friend of mine and is genuinely one of the kindest and most positive people I’ve ever met.”
Argentine streaming channel Blender thanked Gaspi for his art in a post on X.
“Every one of us will miss you,” Blender said.
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