A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday when a helicopter crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Cairns, Australia, resulting in the death of the pilot and triggering a massive evacuation.
The crash occurred around 1:50 a.m. local time, with Queensland Police later confirming the pilot, the only person on board, did not survive.
The impact of the crash caused a massive fireball, prompting immediate emergency response and the evacuation of all 400 guests from the hotel.
The DoubleTree by Hilton, situated on the waterfront in Cairns, is a subsidiary of the American hotel giant Hilton.
The crash also injured two elderly hotel guests, who were swiftly transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the red helicopter initially flying away from the hotel before inexplicably turning back and crashing directly into the building.
The scene was described as chaotic, with pieces of the helicopter scattered outside the building and residents gathering nearby during the evacuation.
One passerby, who witnessed the aftermath, described the scene as “madness,” noting the intense flames that engulfed the top of the eight-story hotel.
Footage captured the fire illuminating the night sky, while sirens blared as authorities worked to clear the area.
Residents in the vicinity of the hotel were alerted to the danger and evacuated as a precaution, with concerns that any remaining fuel from the helicopter could potentially explode.
A witness at the scene described the helicopter’s impact, stating, “It’s smashed right in.”
Another added, “Boy, that was going fast—the helicopter too… a red helicopter… it went past twice. It was just going out of control, that thing was.”
The cause of the crash remains under investigation as authorities work to determine what led to the tragic event that has left the community in shock.
