Watch: Pilot killed after stolen helicopter crashes on hotel roof

A helicopter crash occurred at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns, northeastern Australia, on Monday, resulting in the death of the pilot and a massive fire on the building’s roof.

The twin-engine helicopter crashed into the hotel around 1:50 am local time, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of patrons.

Witness Amanda Kay described the harrowing scene, stating that the helicopter was flying erratically and without clearance lights before crashing into the building.

Two people were hospitalized for smoke inhalation, while the pilot, the sole passenger, died at the scene.

Cairns hotel evacuated after a helicopter crashed into its roof in Cairns, QLD, Australia#breaking #Cairns #Queensland #Australia pic.twitter.com/A1H3GDni9j

— Bobby Ellison (@BobbyEllisonKY) August 11, 2024

Emergency services officials described the scene as “madness,” with one witness capturing the aftermath on video, showing a bright plume of fire blazing on the hotel’s roof.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has launched an investigation into the crash, citing tricky flying conditions at the time, including poor visibility and possible rain.