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A helicopter crashed into the rooftop of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Cairns, Australia, in the early hours of Monday, resulting in the death of the pilot, according to authorities.
The incident triggered a massive evacuation of hundreds of guests and staff, who were forced into the streets as flames and smoke engulfed the building, CNN reports.
The crash occurred near the popular Cairns Esplanade waterfront boardwalk, a hub for tourists in the north Queensland city. Police have secured the area, and Nautilus Aviation, the charter company owning the aircraft, is cooperating with investigators, revealing that the helicopter was used without authorization.
IDoubleTree by Hilton Cairns said all of its guests 421 adults and 50 children, plus two staff were safely evacuated, and the hotel was arranging alternative accommodation for guests on Monday night.
It is working with authorities on the investigation, it said.
They were evacuated into the street after the helicopter crashed into the building near Cairns Esplanade, a waterfront boardwalk popular with travelers in the north Queensland city.
Veronica Knight, who witnessed the incident noted that she was visiting Cairns from Sydney, and was sitting on the esplanade, talking on the phone after midnight, when she saw a helicopter fly by very low over the water.
It was going “full speed,” she told CNN. It disappeared from her sight for a few minutes, and she started walking home before seeing the helicopter flying back. As she pulled out her phone to film it, the helicopter veered and headed straight towards the nearby well-lit buildings.
Seconds later, it hit the roof of the hotel.
In a swift reaction, police cordoned off the area in the busy tourist strip, while charter company Nautilus Aviation said it was working with officials as they investigate the “unauthorized use” of one of the company’s aircraft.
The pilot and sole occupant of the helicopter was declared dead at the scene, police said.
Knight said the helicopter had passed over trees and another taller building before hitting the roof of the seven-story hotel.
“[The pilot] would have known those buildings were there,” said Knight. “The strange thing is it went straight past a tall building nearby, and it went straight past the tall one and got a lower one.”
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