+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

A stolen helicopter crashed into a hotel in Australia, killing the pilot and somehow only minorly injuring 2 other people

Aug 12, 2024, 18:02 IST
Business Insider
A piece of the helicopter on a roadside in Cairns.Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)/AFP via Getty Images
  • A helicopter crashed into a hotel in Cairns, Australia, killing the pilot.
  • The flight was unauthorized, and the helicopter was reportedly stolen.
Advertisement

A person has died after a helicopter crashed into a hotel in Australia on Monday.

Nautilus Aviation, the aircraft's owner, said in a statement that the flight, in the northeastern city of Cairns, was "unauthorized."

ABC reported that the helicopter was stolen.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the pilot, who was the only person on board, died after the collision. The helicopter, a Robinson R44 II, was destroyed by impact forces and fire, it added.

Emergency services were called at around 1:50 a.m. local time, Queensland Police said.

Advertisement

The Guardian reported that 300 to 400 people were evacuated from the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel. The local ambulance service said no injuries were sustained by people on the ground.

Two people in the hotel, however, were taken to the hospital.

Angus Mitchell, the chief commissioner of the ATSB, said two people were asleep in the hotel room which was impacted by the collision.

"It was devastation, obviously, the blades of the helicopter have gone into the room," he told ABC.

ABC reported that a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s were taken to hospital in a stable condition and later discharged.

Advertisement

"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," Mitchell added.

"Nautilus Aviation are working closely with the Queensland Police Service, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other authorities as they investigate the unauthorised use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning," the charter company said in a statement shared with Business Insider.

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

You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article