Cairns, August 12 – A tragic helicopter crash occurred early Sunday morning in the northern Queensland city of Cairns, resulting in the death of the pilot and injuries to two hotel guests. The incident took place around 2:30 AM when the helicopter crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, sparking a fire and prompting the evacuation of hundreds of guests.

According to reports from the BBC, the helicopter was flying dangerously close to the hotel in heavy rain, without using any lights, before it crashed. Eyewitnesses described the terrifying scene, noting the loud noise that followed the impact. The helicopter operator claimed that they had no flights scheduled in the area at the time of the crash.

Emergency services responded quickly, with Queensland Police and the Aviation Safety Watchdog launching an investigation into the cause of the crash. The roads surrounding the hotel were closed, and a state of emergency was declared in the area. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the helicopter, was pronounced dead at the scene, while the two injured guests were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The city of Cairns, a popular tourist destination known for its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef, is in shock following the incident. The authorities are continuing their investigation to determine what led to this tragic accident.