The body of the American singer Oliver Tree, 32, was repatriated to California this weekend, one week after he died in a mid-air collision between two helicopters above Rio de Janeiro on 14 June. His family confirmed the return in a statement posted to his official social media accounts, thanking supporters for an outpouring of tributes.

Brazilian police identified the five other victims as the Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim Díaz, known as Gaspi; the Argentine film director Lucas Vignale; the Brazilian music producer Lucas Brito Chaves, who performed as Lucas Frota; and the pilots Charles Marsillac and Alexandre Souza. All six on board the two aircraft were killed. The cause of the collision remains under investigation, with authorities examining the possibility of human error by a pilot or air traffic controllers, according to the Associated Press. A document obtained by CNN Brasil reveals that Brazil’s air navigation services, NAV Brasil, warned the Air Force in December 2025 of a sharp increase in helicopter crossing flights near Jacarepaguá Airport, where one of the helicopters departed. The Air Force acknowledged the situation but said a restructuring of the terminal airspace was not scheduled until June 2027. The crash occurred in an area outside the controlled airspace, where pilots rely on general aviation rules and self-coordination.

The family’s Instagram post disclosed that Tree had arranged in his testament for a foundation, “Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Grant For Baby Geniuses,” to support emerging artists. “We will make sure his wish comes to fruition so that more joy, love and art can be spread into the world,” the statement said. It also repeated a motto Tree often shared: “No matter how strange you think you look, no matter how ugly you feel, you are beautiful.” Public reaction has included widespread homage, but a Spanish influencer’s attempt to craft a chocolate bar in Tree’s likeness drew sharp criticism on TikTok, with many users calling the gesture disrespectful and opportunistic. The creator later said she intended it as a sincere tribute.

Separately, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice to pilots to exercise extreme caution in the Caribbean due to worsening security conditions and intensified military activity linked to tensions between Washington and Caracas. US military aircraft have been operating without transponders in the region, and a JetBlue pilot reported a near-collision with a US Air Force refuelling plane off Curaçao earlier this month, according to the Associated Press. The government of Curaçao said it had been assured that US military planes would activate their transponders in its airspace. The US has reinforced its naval and air presence to pressure the government of Nicolás Maduro and interdict drug trafficking.

Brazilian authorities continue to investigate the Rio helicopter crash, and no final determination on its cause has been reached. The Caribbean airspace alert remains in effect.