SYDNEY: A helicopter crashed into the roof of a Hilton hotel in Australia on Monday, local media cited police. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), citing police sources, said the pilot, who was the only person in the chopper died.
The crash set off a fire atop the building and forcing a mass evacuation. Two other people were rushed to hospital and are in a stable condition, police said.
ABC reported that the company that charters the helicopter, Nautilus Aviation, said the pilot was on an “unauthorised” flight. Queensland Police said that it is investigating “a fatal aviation incident in Cairns City”.
Emergency services were called to the intersection of The Esplanade and Florence Street around 1:50am following reports a twin engine Helicopter colliding with the roof of a hotel.
The resulting impact caused a fire on top of the hotel; however the building was evacuated as a precaution and there were no injuries sustained by people on the ground, police said. Forensic investigations are under way to formally identify the pilot.
An exclusion zone was put in place encompassing The Esplanade, Minnie Street, Abbott Street and Florence Street. (ANI)