Double Tree Cairns - Chopper Crashed into Roof

[MJ_/\_]

1:50am last night. Reports are saying only two people taken to hospital in a stable condition (presumably in the chopper?).

Horrifying footage emerges of hotel inferno after helicopter crash

Footage has emerged showing hundreds of people evacuating a burning hotel after a helicopter crashed into its roof sparking a massive blaze.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Hopefully all ends up well. Not what you'd be expecting in the middle of the night!

 

[p--and--t]

Not a lot of info yet

Pilot flying stolen helicopter killed after crashing into Cairns hotel

Up to 400 people were evacuated from the DoubleTree by Hilton on Cairns Esplanade after the crash, which set the top of the building alight.

www.abc.net.au

Seems noone on the ground reported seriously injured. No news yet about occupants of copter.

 

[p--and--t]

Another source this time with reported injuries

Horrifying footage emerges of hotel inferno after helicopter crash

Footage has emerged showing hundreds of people evacuating a burning hotel after a helicopter crashed into its roof sparking a massive blaze.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[zig]

ABC news reporting that the pilot has died. Sad news.

 

[p--and--t]

Pilot killed after chopper hit Cairns hotel at ‘full force’​

By Jessica McSweeney​

The pilot of a helicopter that crashed into a waterfront hotel in Cairns was killed and two people were injured, Nine News has reported.
A witness who watched the crash unfold from the nearby esplanade told Ben Fordham on 2GB that she saw the helicopter fly away from the hotel before circling back at “full force and full speed”.
“The next thing I knew I saw it fly towards the hotel building and I saw the big explosion ... it hit the building,” the woman who gave her name as Veronica said.
The pilot was a man in his 40s.
An 83-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman were taken to hospital, but were not seriously injured, Nine reported.

 

[straitman]

The only other useful information I have heard at this time is that it was a "small" helicopter and not the size of the QES aircraft (AW-139)

Personally I cannot see any reason why a small helicopter would be there at that time of the night.

 

[straitman]

The helicopter was on an "unauthorised" flight, according to the company that charters it.

 

[Saab34]

Seems intentional going off all reports, bit like the Q400 event over in Seattle.

Question will likely be is it internal or external. I won’t assume a chopper isn’t easy to fly?

 

[DC3]

.. two people taken to hospital in a stable condition (presumably in the chopper?).

Seems to have been updated. Only occupant of the helicopter was a pilot

 

[MJ_/\_]

yeah, company saying it was a non-authorised flight, no flight-plan lodged. Witnesses saw it going at very high speed up and down the coast before veering off suddenly into the hotel... very weird

 

[jase05]

yeah, company saying it was a non-authorised flight, no flight-plan lodged. Witnesses saw it going at very high speed up and down the coast before veering off suddenly into the hotel... very weird

Company now also reportedly saying all their pilots are accounted for so sounds like it was stolen?

 

[p--and--t]

Robinson R44. 4 seater copter

Hotel is in designated no fly zone.

"Pilot" only occupant

Image from Wikipedia (not the copter in incident)

 

[Saab34]

Company now also reportedly saying all their pilots are accounted for so sounds like it was stolen?

Looking at street Google Maps I can see some areas in which one could be easily get over the fence.

Expect new fences! I note Tullamarine has installed new fences around the edges.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Looking at street Google Maps I can see some areas in which one could be easily get over the fence.

Expect new fences! I note Tullamarine has installed new fences around the edges.

We all know well that expression about whom fences keep out..

 

[straitman]

Question will likely be is it internal or external. I won’t assume a chopper isn’t easy to fly?

Easy enough if you can actually get it airborne. Hovering is the hard part.

 

[p--and--t]

Latest update on ABC.
- Copter was stolen
- "Pilot" was not one of companies pilots.
- Efforts underway to try and identify the "Pilot"

 

[DC3]

Yes. It’s all over the web for those who are interested in the latest updates

 

[Happy Dude]

I won’t assume a chopper isn’t easy to fly?

Movies, even funny ones, tells us it's not that hard. **Strong language warning**

 

[RSVKanga]

What was the registration of the helicopter?

 

[Dr_Goz]

Mildly frustrating as I was booked to stay there this weekend.
Now for the fun part of trying to find a comparable hotel for 2 adults and 2 children at short notice