Unauthorized Flight Leads to Disaster: Helicopter Crashes into Hotel Roof
A tragic accident occurred in the city of Cairns, located in Queensland, Australia, when a helicopter attempting to land “unauthorized” on a hotel roof crashed. The incident took place at 1:50 AM local time, resulting in the death of the helicopter pilot who had taken off from a hangar at Cairns Airport. Following the crash, a fire broke out at the hotel, leading to the evacuation of hundreds of guests.
Pilot Killed, Two Hotel Guests Hospitalized
In a statement following the crash, it was confirmed that the pilot was the only person on board the helicopter and that he died at the scene. Two hotel guests, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s, were injured and taken to the hospital, where they were reported to be in stable condition.
Unauthorized Flight Allegation
The company that rented the helicopter stated that the flight was conducted without authorization. Queensland police and aviation safety investigators have launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Authorities indicated that the lack of a flight plan and the unauthorized nature of the flight would be central to the investigation.
Witnesses: “The Helicopter Was Flying at a Very Low Altitude”
Amanda Kay, who was at the hotel during the incident, noted that the helicopter was flying at a very low altitude in rainy weather with its lights off. Kay said, “It turned and crashed into the building.” Another witness mentioned that the helicopter was flying very fast and passed in front of the hotel twice before the collision.
Rotor Blades Detached, Causing a Loud Explosion
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) reported that two of the helicopter’s rotor blades were torn off due to the impact, with debris falling into the hotel’s pool and surrounding areas. QAS spokesperson Caitlin Dennings stated, “There are reports that it sounded like a bomb.”
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