HOTEL: Helicoptor crash at Cairns DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
The pilot of a helicopter that crashed into the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns, Queensland in Australia has died, and two others have sustained non-life threatening injuries. Th
The Double Tree by Hilton Hotel on the Esplanade in Cairns has been evacuated after a twin-engined helicopter crashed into the roof, bursting into flames at 1:50 am on Monday 12 August.
It has been reported to a Sydney radio station by an observer, that the helicopter flew away form the hotel before circling back at full speed and crashing into the hotel building causing an explosion.
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Pilot death and casualties
The dead pilot was in his 40s and the injured were an 83-year-old male and a 76-year-old female. Both were taken to hospital and are in a stable condition.
Two of the helicopter’s rotor blades were sheared off in the accident and landed in the hotel’s pool.
Between 300 and 400 people were evacuated from the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel as ambulance crews arrived.
Unauthorised flight
The ABC is reporting that the flight was unauthorised and quoting a statement from the helicopter charter company, Nautilus Aviation:
Nautilus Aviation are working closely with Queensland Police, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other authorities as they investigate the unauthorised use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning.
Nautilus Aviation spokesperson to ABC News, Australia
The crash will be investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Queensland Police’s Forensic Crash Unit. A report will be prepared for the coroner. Investigations are ongoing.
2PAXfly Takeout
Because of the apparent ‘unauthorised’ nature of the flight, the interweb is now afire with terrorist and conspiracy theories, which at this stage are entirely unfounded.
I’ll update this article if there are any significant developments.
This incident is a tragedy, whatever the reason. A person has died. Hundreds of guests have been alarmed, and residents frightened.
Cairns is a tourist-reliant destination. I hope that this incident does not affect tourist arrivals from both overseas and locally. Cairns has already suffered from the downturn in overseas tourism since COVID-19. Virgin cancelled its service between Tokyo Haneda Airport and Cairns effective from 2025, only months after it was resumed.
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