12 killed in Missouri plane crash

Six killed as two copters crash in Rio de Janeiro

BUTLER/RIO DE JANEIRO:

Twelve people reportedly died in a plane crash on Sunday in Butler, Missouri, the state highway patrol posted on social media.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said the crash occurred near the Butler Memorial Airport.

"At this time, reports indicate all occupants (12 total) have perished," the agency wrote in a post on X.

Butler is about 60 miles south of Kansas City, Missouri.

Earlier, a mid-air collision between two helicopters in Rio de Janeiro killed six people, according to local media reports.

The crash occurred around 11:59 GMT in the southwestern neighbourhood of Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Globo News reported.

One of the helicopters reportedly carried four passengers and a pilot, while the other was operated solely by a pilot. Spokesperson for the RJ Fire Department said no one on board survived.

One of the aircraft exploded upon impact near a parking lot containing electric vehicles, triggering secondary blasts and a column of smoke visible from miles away. The second aircraft landed upside down without catching fire.

Debris from the wreckage scattered across a radius of at least 100 meters, with portions of the fuselage landing on the terraces of neighbouring buildings.

American singer-songwriter Oliver Tree, who was in Brazil on a world tour, was aboard one of the helicopters, a police source told AFP.

The alternative singer and internet personality is listed as one of six people on the manifests of the two aircraft shared by the source, who said the victims could not be formally identified yet as they were badly burned in the crash.

The passengers alongside the singer included a Brazilian music producer, Argentine video director and Argentine YouTuber Gaspar Prim, known online as "Gaspi."

The 32-year-old Oliver Tree -- with a distinctive bowl haircut and meme-worthy internet persona -- was known for hits such as "Life Goes On," "Miss You," and "Alien Boy."

He has over 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with his top songs listened to over 700 million times. AGENCIES