A helicopter crashed into the roof of the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel in Cairns, northern Australia, early Monday morning, resulting in the pilot’s death and the evacuation of hundreds of hotel guests.
Emergency services were dispatched at approximately 2 a.m. local time (1600 GMT Sunday) following the incident. The twin-engine helicopter struck the hotel’s roof, igniting a fire that led to the immediate evacuation of the building, Queensland state police reported.
The pilot, whose identity is yet to be officially confirmed, was declared dead at the scene.Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported among people on the ground.

The crash, which occurred in Cairns—a key entry point to the Great Barrier Reef—resulted in two of the helicopter’s rotor blades breaking off. One of these blades fell into the hotel’s swimming pool, according to Australian media.
The forensic crash unit is collaborating with Australia’s transport safety regulator to investigate the incident and prepare a detailed accident report.