A tragic helicopter crash in Cairns, Australia, has left one man dead and forced the evacuation of up to 400 hotel guests.
The incident occurred around 1:50 a.m. (local time) when a twin-engine helicopter plummeted into the roof of the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, igniting a fire that rapidly spread across the rooftop.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, but the helicopter’s pilot, who was the sole occupant, was pronounced dead on-site. Forensic investigators are currently working to formally identify the deceased.
The circumstances surrounding the flight have raised significant concerns, as Nautilus Aviation, the company that owns the helicopter, confirmed that the flight was unauthorized.
“Nautilus Aviation is cooperating fully with Queensland Police, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and other relevant authorities as they investigate the unauthorized use of one of our helicopters early this morning,” the company stated in response to the crash.
“We will not be making further comments at this time as the investigation is ongoing.”
Reports indicate that no official flight plan had been filed prior to the crash. Eyewitness Veronica Knight described the helicopter as traveling at an “incredibly fast” speed before it collided with the hotel.
The fire that erupted on the hotel roof was quickly contained, and fortunately, no one on the ground sustained injuries. However, the building was evacuated as a precaution, displacing hundreds of guests in the early morning hours.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, focusing on how and why the helicopter took off without authorization and what led to the fatal crash.
