A helicopter crashed into the roof of a Hilton hotel in northeastern Australia on Monday, resulting in the death of the pilot and triggering a fiery explosion on the building. The incident occurred at around 1:50 am local time at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Cairns, a popular tropical tourist destination.
Hundreds of guests were evacuated after the twin-engine helicopter collided with the hotel. Debris from the crash, including mangled pieces of the helicopter's propeller, was found in the hotel's pool, according to an emergency services official.
Witness Amanda Kay, who was nearby, recounted that her assistance dog woke her just before the crash, allowing her to witness the event from her balcony. She described the helicopter as flying dangerously low without clearance lights, and noted its erratic movement before it crashed into the building, causing a massive explosion.
The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, died at the scene. Two hotel guests staying near the crash site were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation.
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Footage shared on social media captured the aftermath, showing a bright fire blazing on the hotel's roof. In the video, a voice can be heard exclaiming, "Madness, man," as sirens blared in the background, expressing shock that people had been in the building at the time of the crash.
Queensland Ambulance supervisor Caitlin Denning reported that the helicopter's propellers had "dislodged," with one landing on the Cairns Esplanade and another in the hotel's pool, where it caught fire. She mentioned that many hotel occupants initially thought the crash was a bomb due to the sound and subsequent fire and smoke.
The roof fire was extinguished later in the morning. Cairns is a well-known tourist hub that serves as a gateway to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
Angus Mitchell, commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, noted that flying conditions were challenging at the time of the crash, with poor visibility and possible rain. He emphasized that investigators would be focusing on gathering facts to determine the sequence of events and understand the nature of the helicopter's flight.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has sent a team of experts to the crash site and is urging witnesses with photos, video footage, or any relevant information to come forward to aid the investigation.
