I n the early hours of Monday morning, a helicopter crashed onto the roof of the luxury DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Cairns, Australia, resulting in the death of the pilot, authorities confirmed. The incident, which occurred near Cairns Esplanade, led to a significant emergency response as flames and smoke billowed into the night sky.
Hundreds of guests and hotel staff were promptly evacuated from the building after the crash, which caused a fire on the hotel’s roof. Police arrived at the scene shortly after 1:50 a.m., and while no other injuries were reported, the hotel guests appeared visibly shaken during the evacuation.
Witness Veronica Knight, who was on the esplanade at the time, described seeing the helicopter flying at a low altitude before it veered off course and collided with the hotel. Knight reported hearing two explosions — one upon impact and a smaller one shortly thereafter — and captured footage showing the intense flames and smoke.
The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, was pronounced dead at the scene. Nautilus Aviation, the charter company operating the aircraft, is cooperating with authorities as investigations continue into the “unauthorized use” of the helicopter.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and forensic crash units are at the site to collect evidence and conduct interviews. An exclusion zone has been established around the area, with police urging the public to stay away.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns confirmed that all guests, including 421 adults and 50 children, along with two staff members, were safely evacuated. The hotel is currently arranging alternative accommodations for its displaced guests and is assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are calling for any witnesses with photos or videos of the incident to come forward through the ATSB website.
0 Comments