• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Pilot dies after crashing stolen helicopter into roof of hotel

Home> News> World News

Published 17:33 12 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Pilot dies after crashing stolen helicopter into roof of hotel

Officials described the scene at the DoubleTree Hilton as 'catastrophic'

Emily Brown

Emily Brown

The pilot of a stolen helicopter has died after crashing the aircraft into a hotel roof during an 'unauthorized flight'.

As many as 400 people were evacuated from the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel on Cairns Esplanade, in Far North Queensland, when the crash took place shortly before 2.00am local time on August 12.

The incident caused two of the aircraft's rotor blades to disconnect from the aircraft, one of which landed on a walkway and the second into the hotel pool.

Advert

The top of the building also set alight amid what Angus Mitchell, Chief Commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said was 'devastation'.

He also described one of the hotel rooms close to the crash site as a 'catastrophic sight'.

Speaking to ABC, he said: "It was devastation, obviously, the blades of the helicopter have gone into the room."

Two guests staying at the hotel, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s, had to be taken to hospital as a result of the incident, but are said to be in a stable condition and have since been discharged.

Advert

Investigators are now trying to determine details surrounding the helicopter flight, which charter company Nautilus Aviation said was 'unauthorized'.

The roof of the hotel set alight in the crash. (7News)
The roof of the hotel set alight in the crash. (7News)

The pilot who flew the helicopter has not yet been identified, but the company has said all of its pilots had been accounted for.

In a statement to ABC, Nautilus Aviation said: "Nautilus Aviation are working closely with Queensland Police, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other authorities as they investigate the unauthorized use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning.

Advert

"As we continue to fully support the ongoing investigation, we will not be making further comments at this time."

Mitchell said the significant wreckage at the scene would mean it will take some time to determine what happened.

He explained: "Now we understand the helicopter was only in the air for a very short period of time coming out of the Cairns airport, down across parts of Cairns itself, and then ultimately into the side of the building.

"We'll piece that together from not only witness statements and some of the CCTV that have captured it, but equally, what we can actually gather from the crash site itself, any of the recording devices that were on and operable on the helicopter that we can recover now."

Advert

Officials described the scene as 'catastrophic'. (7News)
Officials described the scene as 'catastrophic'. (7News)

"As we know from this particular crash site, we've got debris from across the road, into the pool, and indeed on the helicopter where it landed on the roof," Mithcell continued.

"We know that a lot of stages of the flight, from our witness statements, the helicopter was quite low.

"So whether or not that's been picked up by radar, whether the pilot has made any transmissions or not, that's something that we will certainly look into."

Advert

Investigators plan to try and gain further information from what was recorded by the air traffic control's primary radar, as well as figuring out if the pilot was using the radio.

Queensland Police Service Acting Chief Superintendent Shane Holmes has expressed belief the crash was an isolated incident, and there is no threat to the community.

LADbible Group has contacted Hilton, Queensland Police and Nautilus Aviation for additional comment.

Featured Image Credit: FaceBook/David Veronica Knight/7 News

Topics: Australia, Crime, World News

Emily Brown
Emily Brown

Emily Brown is UNILAD Editorial Lead at LADbible Group. She first began delivering news when she was just 11 years old - with a paper route - before graduating with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University. Emily joined UNILAD in 2018 to cover breaking news, trending stories and longer form features. She went on to become Community Desk Lead, commissioning and writing human interest stories from across the globe, before moving to the role of Editorial Lead. Emily now works alongside the UNILAD Editor to ensure the page delivers accurate, interesting and high quality content.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
12 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Air India pilot's reported tragic final words in distressed mayday call before crash that killed 265

    The plane crashed back down to the ground after only getting a few miles from Ahmedabad Airport

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    Elon Musk's ex-wife reveals one reason being married to him 'sucked'

    Justine Wilson was married to Elon Musk from 2000 to 2008 and did not mince her words as she opened up about their relationship

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    Scientists reveal biggest great white shark ever recorded in Atlantic has resurfaced in major US tourist hotspot

    It's not the biggest great white shark in the ocean, however

    News
  • 12 hours ago

    Scientists reveal what the length of your fingers really says about you and it might be surprising

    An in-depth analysis of more than 5,000 people across 12 countries indicates that your hand could well determine your fitness and more

    News
  • Skydiver dies after freak weather event sent her crashing into the ground
  • King of the Hill star Jonathan Joss dies aged 59 after fatally being shot by neighbor during argument
  • American tourist dies after drinking psychedelic ayahuasca drug during popular ritual in Peru
  • Pilot of helicopter that crashed in NYC and killed six people has been named as Navy SEAL veteran