Helicopter crashes into hotel in Australia, killing pilot during “unauthorized” flight

A helicopter collided with the roof of a hotel in Australia, resulting in the death of the pilot and the subsequent outbreak of a fire within the hotel.

A helicopter crashes into the roof of a hotel in Cairns, Australia, during an early morning flight that authorities have characterized as “unauthorized,” resulting in the tragic death of a pilot. At approximately 01:50 local time on Monday, the aircraft collided with the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in the northern Queensland city, resulting in the evacuation of hundreds of guests and the igniting of a fire.

The helicopter’s solitary occupant was confirmed by authorities to have passed away at the scene. In addition, two hotel guests, a 70-year-old woman and an 80-year-old male, were transported to the hospital in stable condition.

Local media outlets have suggested that the helicopter may have been taken. The aircraft was owned by Nautilus Aviation, which issued a statement expressing their intention to completely cooperate with Queensland authorities in the investigation of the “unauthorised use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning.”

The harrowing moments preceding the accident were told by eyewitnesses. Amanda Kay, a hotel guest, recounted her observation of the helicopter flying “extra low” in rainy weather without lighting before it “turned round and collided with the building.” She further stated that the aircraft “exploded” upon impact. The helicopter was described as “out of control” by another witness, who observed it fly past the hotel twice prior to the collision.

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) reported that two of the helicopter’s rotor blades detached as a result of the accident. One of the blades landed on the esplanade, while the other was deposited in the hotel pool. “The hotel’s occupants were in a state of confusion and chaos,” stated QAS spokeswoman Caitlin Dennings, citing reports that the noise sounded like a bomb.

Alastair Salmon, a London tourist who was staying at the hotel, described the incident to the ABC as “a colossal ear-deafening bang.” He was one of approximately 400 individuals who were evacuated from the facility. At first, Salmon mistook one of the detached rotor blades on the ground for a lamppost until he observed “a massive hole in the window of the building.”

The streets encircling the hotel were cordoned off in the aftermath of the crash, and the Queensland Police declared an emergency situation. The Queensland Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) are currently conducting investigations to ascertain the circumstances that led to the tragic incident.

Cairns, situated in northern Queensland, is a renowned tourism destination, particularly for those who are visiting the nearby Great Barrier Reef. As a result of this startling incident, the city is currently grappling with its aftermath.