Aug. 12 (UPI) – Early Monday, a helicopter crashed into the roof of a hotel in the northeastern Australian city of Cairns. According to authorities, the helicopter’s pilot was pronounced dead at the scene.
The helicopter crashed into the hotel building at the intersection of Esplanade and Florence Street at 1:54am local time, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in a statement. Photos of the incident posted online by Queensland Ambulance show the hotel involved was a Double Tree by Hilton.
The pilot – who was the only victim of the crash and the only occupant of the helicopter – was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a statement from Queensland Police. Forensic investigators are currently working to officially identify the body.
As a result of the accident, a small fire broke out and the hotel was evacuated as a precaution, both Queensland Police and Queensland Ambulance said. No one on the ground was injured.
The helicopter was destroyed by the impact and the subsequent fire, the ASTSB said.
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Holmes told reporters later on Monday that the helicopter had been removed from a hangar and that the fatal flight was unauthorised, local SBS reported.
The ASTSB said it was aware of reports describing the flight as unauthorized, adding that a team of three transportation safety investigators arrived in Cairns late Monday morning to begin the investigation.
“In the coming days we will try to determine whether this accident was a transport safety issue,” it said.
Authorities have asked the public to contact them with any information, photos or videos of the incident.
