By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
A tragic incident unfolded early Monday morning when a helicopter crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns, killing the pilot and igniting a massive fireball that led to the evacuation of up to 400 people. The helicopter, a twin engine model operated by Nautilus Aviation, was reportedly stolen from Cairns Airport, raising a significant and unanswered question about the motivation behind the crash.
Emergency services were alerted to the scene at approximately 1 .50 a.m. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was pronounced dead at the scene. Forensic investigators are currently working to formally identify him, according to police.
Aaron Finn, the CEO of Nautilus Aviation, confirmed to The Australian that the helicopter had been taken from the airport early in the morning. However, Queensland Police Service Acting Chief Superintendent Shane Holmes was unable to provide clarity on the pilot's intent during a press conference later that day. When asked if the crash appeared to be a deliberate act or an accident, Holmes stated that the cause was "unknown at this stage," but the incident is believed to be isolated.
Superintendent Greg Tomlinson, Queensland Fire's Gold Coast zone commander, corroborated that the helicopter had likely departed from a general aviation hangar at Cairns Airport but declined to comment on whether it was stolen. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's chief commissioner, Angus Mitchell, also refrained from elaborating on whether the flight was unauthorized or deliberate. However, Mitchell stressed that the incident seemed to pose no further threat and would be treated as a typical investigation.
Mitchell emphasized that the investigation would focus on gathering data from the crash site and the helicopter's operator, as well as establishing the pilot's identity. Visibility was reported to be low on the morning of the crash, which will be a factor in the investigation. The bureau plans to release a preliminary report within a few weeks once a clearer sequence of events is determined.
The incident has been described as "traumatic," particularly for two hotel guests who were asleep in the room impacted by the crash. Nautilus Aviation confirmed that all of its staff members were accounted for and had been given the day off following the event. The airline also acknowledged in a statement that the flight was "unauthorized" and assured that it is cooperating fully with authorities.
Cairns Airport officials stated that there had been no compromise of airport security, according to their initial review. The airport operates under a stringent, multi layered security program, and officials are assisting with the ongoing investigation. A spokesman for the airport expressed condolences to those affected by the incident, noting that no flight plan had been filed for the helicopter.
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