In the early hours of this morning, a devastating helicopter crash occurred at the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton in Cairns, Australia. The incident, which happened around 1:50 a.m. local time, has resulted in the death of the helicopter’s pilot and significant disruption at the hotel.

According to reports, the twin-engine helicopter crashed into the roof of the hotel and burst into flames shortly after impact. The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was pronounced dead at the scene. The helicopter was operated by Nautilus Aviation, who have confirmed that the flight was unauthorized and that no flight plan had been filed.

Emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the hotel’s roof on fire, prompting an immediate evacuation of up to 400 people. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries among the hotel guests or staff. The quick response of the emergency services prevented what could have been a much larger disaster.

Witnesses described the helicopter as moving at high speed just before the crash. One bystander, Veronica Knight, reported that the aircraft appeared to be traveling incredibly fast before it struck the hotel’s roof.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and Queensland Police are leading the investigation into the crash. Nautilus Aviation has expressed its support for the ongoing investigation but has not provided further details at this time. The company has stated that they are fully cooperating with the authorities to determine the cause of the incident and to understand how the helicopter ended up in unauthorized use.

As the investigation continues, the focus will be on understanding how this unauthorized flight occurred and whether any safety protocols were breached. The incident raises serious questions about aviation safety and operational oversight, and further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.