A helicopter crash into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns, Australia, early Monday morning, resulting in the death of the pilot. The aircraft, belonging to North Queensland charter company Nautilus Aviation, was reported to have been flown without authorization. Emergency services responded to the incident at approximately 1:50 am, evacuating around 300 to 400 guests from the hotel located on Cairns’ Esplanade.
The Queensland ambulance confirmed that two of the helicopter’s propellers fell onto the street and into the hotel pool. Queensland Police reported that the pilot, the sole occupant of the twin-engine helicopter, died at the scene. Forensic investigations are underway to identify him. Acting Chief Superintendent Shane Holmes stated that the helicopter had only been airborne for a short period before the crash and emphasized that the investigation would focus on the pilot’s activities prior to takeoff.
Police have confirmed that the helicopter that crashed into the hotel roof was being operated on an “unauthorized flight,” with the aircraft’s operating company clarifying that the helicopter was reportedly stolen.
“Nautilus Aviation is working closely with the Queensland Police, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), and other authorities to investigate the unauthorized use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning,” the company said in a statement. Holmes noted that the helicopter was flown from Cairns airport’s general aviation area. “We are working with a local aviation operator to understand the circumstances that led to the helicopter becoming airborne,” he added. “It’s just by pure luck that more people weren’t injured.”
ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell indicated that the investigation would determine whether the crash was a transport safety issue or a matter for regulatory and police review. “It would be very difficult to fly a helicopter if you’re not a pilot or not experienced,” Mitchell remarked.
The crash ignited a fire on the hotel’s roof. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among people on the ground. Two hotel guests, an elderly man and woman, were taken to Cairns hospital in stable condition.
Witnesses described the chaos of the incident. Jill Ball and her husband, Robert, who were staying at the hotel, recounted being awakened by a loud noise and seeing flames from their room. “It was just such a mess, in as much as there was no communication, it was so disorganised,” Jill said. She praised a tour bus driver who helped with the evacuation, describing him as a “hero” for his efforts in guiding guests to safety.
Social media footage showed flames on the hotel roof, with one observer commenting, “A helicopter just flew into a building… that was going fast, that helicopter, too.” The Queensland ambulance’s senior operations supervisor in Cairns, Caitlin Denning, noted the panic among hotel occupants. “There were reports of it sounding like a bomb, and seeing the fire and smoke, a lot of the occupants of the hotel were unsure of the situation,” Denning said.
An exclusion zone has been established around the crash site by Queensland police, who are advising the public to avoid the area as investigations continue.
