12-8-2024 (SYDNEY) A devastating helicopter crash unfolded in the early hours of Monday, 12 August, North Queensland leaving one dead. The incident, which occurred at approximately 1:50 am local time, saw a twin-engine helicopter plummet onto the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns, claiming the life of its sole occupant and igniting a fierce blaze atop the structure.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing what sounded like “a bomb” as the aircraft made impact, followed by billowing smoke and flames that lit up the night sky. The fiery scene prompted an immediate evacuation of hundreds of hotel guests and staff, many of whom were jolted from their sleep by the calamitous event.
Queensland Police confirmed the tragic outcome in a statement, saying, “The pilot and single occupant of the aircraft was located and declared deceased at the scene. Forensic investigations are currently underway to formally identify the individual.”
???????? A helicopter has crashed into the roof of the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Cairns, Australia. pic.twitter.com/dNmGVAVEgB
— Super Videos (@luigyG7) August 11, 2024
The force of the impact was so severe that parts of the helicopter’s propeller were violently dislodged, with one piece landing on the nearby Cairns Esplanade and another found ablaze at the bottom of the hotel’s swimming pool. Queensland Ambulance supervisor Caitlin Denning described the surreal scene: “One [propeller] landed on the Cairns Esplanade and there was a second propeller located in the hotel pool on the bottom floor and it was on fire.”
While the pilot’s life was lost in the crash, two bystanders were transported to hospital in stable condition, though the nature of their injuries remains unclear.
Footage shared on social media captured the aftermath of the crash, with one shocked onlooker exclaiming, “They just flew into that building. Madness, man. Shivers. People were living in that. It smashed right in.”
As dawn broke over the city, the rooftop fire appeared to have subsided, but the gravity of the night’s events hung heavy in the air. Cairns, typically bustling with tourists eager to explore the nearby Great Barrier Reef.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has dispatched a team of investigators to the crash site. In their pursuit of answers, they have issued an appeal to the public, requesting any available photos or video footage of the aircraft during any phase of its flight, as well as information from those who may have heard the helicopter prior to impact.
