In the early hours of this Monday, August 12, a Twin-engine helicopter crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Cairns, northeastern Australiaresulting in the death of the pilot and a violent explosion that forced the evacuation of hundreds of guests.
Details of the helicopter accident
In a dramatic incident At around 1:50 a.m., a twin-engine helicopter crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Cairnsa popular tourist destination in northeastern Australia. The collision caused a massive explosion and a fire that consumed part of the hotel’s roof.
“The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, died at the scene,” police confirmed. The impact also left two people hospitalized for smoke inhalation, who were in a room near the scene of the accident.
“There was a light helicopter flying very low, with no position lights on,” said Amanda Kay, a witness to the crash, who was awakened by her service dog before the impact. Kay watched from her nearby balcony and described the helicopter’s erratic flight before the detonation. “There was a huge explosion because it crashed into the building. It was a huge bang,” he added.
What was recorded in images on the helicopter
Images of the incident A column of fire is shown burning on the roof of the hotel. “They just flew into that building,” one video shared on social media can be heard capturing the moment after the crash. “That’s crazy, man,” he is heard saying as sirens wail in the background.
A Robinson R44 Raven II (VH-ERH) crashed on the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns, Australia. The pilot died.
The Nautilus Aviation helicopter was reportedly stolen from Cairns Airport (CNS).pic.twitter.com/dOPC06rHBD— Aviation Safety Network (ASN) (@AviationSafety) August 12, 2024
Queensland Ambulance Supervisor Caitlin Denning said: “One of the propeller pieces landed on the Cairns Esplanade and a second propeller fell into the hotel pool, which was on fire.” The scale of the incident made many hotel occupants feel unsafe, with reports describing the sound of the impact as an explosion.
What the authorities say about the accident
Angus Mitchell, commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said the flight was hampered by weather conditions.We want to understand what the helicopter was doing at the time and the nature of the flight.“he told reporters. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has sent a team of experts to the scene to investigate the crash and has appealed to witnesses to provide any visual or audio material relating to the helicopter’s flight.
The fire on the hotel roof was later extinguished, but the impact of the incident left a significant mark on the Cairns tourist community, known for its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.
Source: https://www.noticiascaracol.com/mundo/helicoptero-se-estrello-contra-un-hotel-en-australia-se-registro-una-fuerte-explosion-cb20