Cairns, QLD – A tragic helicopter crash in the heart of Cairns early Monday morning has claimed the life of the pilot and forced the evacuation of hundreds of hotel guests.
Around 1:50 a.m., emergency services were called to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on the Esplanade after a helicopter crashed into the hotel’s roof. Queensland Ambulance confirmed that the pilot, the sole occupant of the twin-engine aircraft, died at the scene.
The impact was severe, with two of the helicopter’s propellers detaching—one landing on the Esplanade and the other in the hotel pool, sparking a fire. Guests reported the crash sounded like a bomb, and many were left shaken by the incident.
Approximately 300 to 400 people were evacuated from the hotel. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among those on the ground, although two guests, an elderly man and woman, were transported to Cairns Hospital in stable condition.
Jill Ball, a guest at the hotel, described the chaos that followed the crash, with guests initially told to remain in their rooms before being instructed to evacuate. “It was just such a mess, so disorganized,” she said.
A bus driver from a tour group staying at the hotel emerged as an unlikely hero, shuttling guests to the evacuation point and providing much-needed guidance amid the confusion.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by Queensland Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, with a report to be prepared for the coroner.
Authorities have established an exclusion zone around the crash site, and the public is being urged to avoid the area as investigations continue.
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