SYDNEY, Australia: On Monday, a helicopter crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns, northeastern Australia, igniting a fire and leading to a mass evacuation.
The crash occurred at around 1:50 am local time, with debris from the helicopter, including a propeller, falling into the hotel’s pool. Emergency services reported that one man suffered life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene.
Hundreds of hotel guests were swiftly evacuated as a bright plume of fire was seen erupting from the roof. Eyewitness videos captured the chaos and destruction, highlighting the severity of the incident.
Queensland Ambulance noted that one of the helicopter’s dislodged propellers ended up on the Cairns Esplanade, while another landed in the hotel pool.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported among people on the ground. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has sent a team to investigate the cause of the crash.
