The American musician and internet personality Oliver Tree, 30, was killed on Tuesday when a private helicopter crashed in a remote area of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The crash occurred shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip near the town of Araxá, en route to São Paulo. Tree, whose legal name was Oliver Tree Nickell, was the sole passenger aboard the Bell 429 helicopter, alongside a pilot who also died.
Investigators from Brazil’s Civil Aviation Authority, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch have joined the probe, amid reports of possible mechanical failure. Brazil has requested assistance from international partners given the victim’s international profile. The cause of the crash remains undetermined.
Tree, known for his eccentric public persona and genre-blending music, was on the final leg of a South American tour. His record label confirmed the death in a statement, requesting privacy. The FAA said it has deployed a team to support the local inquiry, while UK experts are expected to arrive later this week.
Initial reports indicate the helicopter lost altitude rapidly before impact. No distress call was made. The pilot, a Brazilian national, held a valid commercial licence.
The investigation is expected to take several months.
