Authorities have confirmed the pilot of a helicopter which crashed into a hotel in Cairns, died at the scene.
However, the pilot’s identity is yet to be confirmed with the owners of the helicopter confirming all of its pilots are accounted for and that no flights had been authorised.
Fire crews responded to what was initially thought to be a structure fire at DoubleTree by Hilton on Cairns Esplanade, but it soon became clear a helicopter was involved in the incident.
“There’s a rotor blade in the pool,” crews report in scanner audio from Broadcastify.com.
ABC News reports two people aged in their 70s and 80s were taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition. It’s believed they were staying in the room closest to the crash site.
Hotel guest Alastair Salmon told ABS News he woke up to “a colossal ear-deafening bang”.
All 400 guests at the hotel were evacutated.
Authorities including Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators are expected to be at the scene for some time.
