1 Dead After ‘Unauthorized’ Helicopter Flight Crashes onto Roof of Hotel

One person has died after a helicopter crashed onto the roof of a hotel in Cairns, Australia on Monday, Aug. 12.

In a statement, the Queensland Police Service confirmed that the pilot, who was the only occupant of the aircraft, was declared dead at the scene after the helicopter collided with the hotel roof.

“Police are investigating following a fatal aviation incident in Cairns City this morning, August 12,” police said in their statement. “Emergency services were called to the intersection of The Esplanade and Florence Street around 1:50 am following reports a twin engine Helicopter colliding with the roof of a hotel.”

Despite the collision resulting in a “fire on top of the hotel,” guests at the location and members of the public on the ground sustained no injuries after an evacuation was carried out, the police statement added.