 "Helicopter crashes onto hotel roof in Australia, 400 guests evacuated – Firstpost")
The pilot of the twin-engine helicopter that crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Cairns died. He was flying without permission
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In the early hours of Monday morning, a helicopter crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns, resulting in the death of the pilot. The aircraft, owned by North Queensland charter company Nautilus Aviation, was reportedly being flown without permission.
According to a report in The GuardianEmergency services responded to the incident at around 1:50am and evacuated approximately 300 to 400 guests from the hotel on Cairns Esplanade.
🚨 🇦🇺 HELICOPTER CRASHES FIRE IN AUSTRALIAN HOTEL
A helicopter crashed onto the roof of the Double Tree Hotel in Cairns near Brisbane, starting a fire.
Rescue workers responded.
No word about injuries.
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) 11 August 2024
Queensland Ambulance confirmed that two of the helicopter’s propellers fell onto the road and into the hotel pool.
Queensland Police reported that the pilot, the only occupant of the twin-engine helicopter, died at the scene. Forensic examinations are currently underway to establish his identity. Assistant Police Commissioner Shane Holmes explained that the helicopter had only been in the air for a short time before the crash and stressed that the investigation would focus on the pilot’s activities before takeoff.
Police have confirmed that the helicopter that crashed into the roof of a Cairns hotel at about 2am this morning was an “unauthorised flight”. The airline’s operating company clarified that the helicopter was reportedly stolen.
The pilot of the helicopter died… pic.twitter.com/iEYqsZDq6P
— 10 News First Queensland (@10NewsFirstQLD) 12 August 2024
“Nautilus Aviation is working closely with Queensland Police, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and other agencies to investigate the unauthorised use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning,” the company said in a statement.
Holmes noted that the helicopter was flown from Cairns Airport’s general airfield. “We are working with a local air carrier to understand the circumstances that led to the helicopter taking off,” he added. “It was sheer luck that more people were not injured.”
ATSB chief Angus Mitchell said the investigation would determine whether the crash was a road safety issue or a matter for authorities and police to review. “It would be very difficult to fly a helicopter if you are not a pilot or have no experience,” Mitchell noted.
The crash caused a fire on the roof of the hotel. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among those on the ground. Two hotel guests, an elderly man and an elderly woman, were taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition.
Witnesses described the chaos of the incident. Jill Ball and her husband Robert, who were staying at the hotel, said they were awakened by a loud noise and saw flames coming from their room. “It was just such chaos, there was no communication, it was so disorganized,” Jill said. She praised a tour bus driver who helped with the evacuation, calling him a “hero” for his efforts to get guests to safety.
Social media videos showed flames on the roof of the hotel. One observer commented: “A helicopter just flew into a building… and the helicopter was going fast.”
Caitlin Denning, the emergency services’ head of operations in Cairns, noticed the panic among hotel guests. “There were reports that it sounded like a bomb and when they saw fire and smoke, many hotel guests were unsure of the situation,” Denning said.
Queensland Police have established an exclusion zone around the crash site and are advising the public to avoid the area while the investigation continues.
