A tragic accident occurred in Cairns, Queensland, as a helicopter crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel early Monday morning. The incident took place around 1:50 AM local time, resulting in a fire that led to the evacuation of hundreds of guests.
Authorities confirmed that the pilot, the sole occupant of the helicopter, died at the scene. Two hotel guests, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s, were hospitalized but reported to be in stable condition.
Eyewitness Amanda Kay described witnessing the helicopter flying unusually low without lights during inclement weather before it struck the building, leading to an explosion. In a dramatic aftermath, two of the helicopter’s rotor blades detached upon impact, landing on the esplanade and in the hotel pool.
Another hotel guest, Alastair Salmon from London, recounted the moment he was awakened by a deafening bang. After evacuation, he initially mistook a rotor blade for a streetlamp, only to discover a large hole in the hotel’s window upon further inspection.
In response to the incident, police cordoned off surrounding streets and declared an emergency situation at the site. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is dispatching investigators to look into the circumstances of the crash. Further updates are expected as authorities continue their investigation.
