A tragic incident occurred early Monday morning in Cairns, a northern Australian city, when a helicopter crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. The accident, which happened around 1:50 am local time, resulted in the death of the helicopter’s pilot.
The crash ignited a fire and prompted the evacuation of hundreds of hotel guests. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying erratically and low, without its lights on, in rainy conditions before it collided with the building. The impact caused two of the helicopter’s rotor blades to break off, landing on the esplanade and in the hotel pool.
One bystander described the scene, saying, “It was just going out of control, that thing was,” as footage captured the aftermath of the fire.
The pilot, the only person on board, was confirmed dead at the scene. Two elderly hotel guests, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s, were taken to the hospital but are in stable condition.
Both Queensland Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau have launched investigations to uncover the details of the unauthorized flight and the cause of the crash. Nautilus Aviation, the company operating the helicopter, has pledged full cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
The city of Cairns, known for its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and as a popular tourist spot, is in shock following the devastating accident. Local emergency services worked quickly to evacuate the hotel and secure the area as the community processes this tragic event.
