Pilot dead after helicopter crashes into roof of Cairns hotel, bursts into flames

New details have emerged about the helicopter that crashed into the roof of a Cairns hotel, killing the pilot and sparking a massive fireball.

The helicopter that crashed into the roof of a Cairns hotel, killing the pilot and sparking a massive fireball, was reportedly stolen from Cairns airport, with one key question still yet to be answered.

Emergency services were called to the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton about 1.50am following reports a twin engine helicopter crashed into a roof, and up to 400 people were evacuated from the building.

The pilot and only occupant of the helicopter was declared dead at the scene, with forensic investigators working to formally identify him, police said.

The Nautilus Aviation helicopter was reportedly stolen from the Cairns airport, with the airline’s chief executive officer Aaron Finn telling The Australian that the helicopter was taken from the airport early in the morning.

At a press conference on Monday afternoon, Queensland Police Service Acting Chief Superintendent Shane Holmes was repeatedly asked if he knew the motivation of the pilot, but could not provide a definitive answer.

When asked: “Does it look like a deliberate act or an accident?”, the chief superintendent simply said it was “unknown at this stage”, but believed to be an “isolated incident”.

Superintendent Holmes was then asked: “Do you have any idea at all of the intent as to what was happening?”

He again appeared to brush off the question, telling reporters it was “early days” and the investigation was still underway.

A man has died after a helicopter crashed into the roof of a Cairns hotel, with up to 400 people evacuated in the incident. Picture: Supplied

Emergency services were called to the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton about 1.50am following reports a twin engine helicopter crashed into a roof. Picture: David Veronica Knight/Facebook

Parts of the helicopter were found nearby the crash scene. picture 9 News

Queensland Fire Gold Coast zone commander Superintendent Greg Tomlinson confirmed the helicopter was believed to have taken off from a general aviation hangar at Cairns airport; however, he declined to comment on whether the helicopter was stolen.

Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said if the flight was unauthorised or unscheduled, the incident may be a regulatory and police matter but also declined to elaborate.

Mr Mitchell said it was unknown if the incident was deliberate or an accident but emphasised that it was believed to be an isolated incident, with no further threat posed.

“At this stage, we’ll treat the investigation like we do any other. We’ll certainly gather what we can from the scene, from the operator, and once we do have an identity of the personnel involved, then we’ll start looking a little bit more closely on all the things that may have contributed to what unfolded last night,” he said.

“But as I said, it’s only very early days.”

He added that visibility was “down” Monday on morning.

“We want to understand what the helicopter was equipped with but also potentially what the helicopter was doing at the time and any nature of the flight,” Mr Mitchell said.

“And that’s going to be the focus of our investigation. After that time, we’ll be looking to release a preliminary report, and that could be as early as a couple of weeks’ time, once we get a sequence of events understood far better.”

Emergency services raced to the scene just before 2am. Picture: Queensland Ambulance via X

What appears to be debris can be seen on the ground nearby. Picture: Queensland Ambulance via X

Mr Mitchell also called the incident “traumatic”.

“There’s been an impact to a building here. We’ve certainly had a look at the room that was impacted, where we had two people asleep at the time, and no doubt that’s been a very traumatic experience for them and also to the family and friends of the person who has deceased in this incident,” he said.

The man’s identity remains unknown, with Nautilus Aviation chief executive Mr Finn earlier confirming to The Australian that all staff were accounted for and had been given the day off following the incident.

The airline previously said the flight was “unauthorised” in a statement.

“Nautilus Aviation are working closely with the Queensland Police Service, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other authorities as they investigate the unauthorised use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning,” the statement said.

“As we continue to fully support the ongoing investigation, we will not be making further comments at this time.”

A Cairns airport spokesman said no “compromise of the airport security” had been found so far.

“We are assisting relevant authorities with their formal investigation into this morning’s incident,” the spokesman said.

“Cairns airport operates under an approved multi-layered transport security program.

“We have conducted a review this morning and initial findings show there has been no compromise of the airport security program or processes.

“Our thoughts are with all affected by this distressing incident.”

The Courier-Mail earlier reported no flight plan had been created.

Bystander Veronica Knight said the helicopter was going incredibly fast before it crashed into the hotel.

“It seemed to come from the pier over there and straight down over the sea, straight, and it was going really, really fast. I thought, ‘wow, that doesn’t look right’,” she told Sunrise on Monday morning.

“It was pretty low, so I got … I was trying to video it, but it went too fast. And then it disappeared for about five to 10 minutes. Then I got a shock, it came back again.

“It was coming back along the sea again. And The Esplanade, and then all of a sudden it suddenly veered to the right.

“I just saw a big explosion and, like, huge fire and I thought, yeah, it’s just hit straight into the motel.”

A fire broke out on the roof of the hotel following the crash and up to 400 people were evacuated; however, no one on the ground suffered any injuries.

Paramedics earlier confirmed they were called to the scene just after 2am and assessed a male patient with life threatening injuries.

Another male in his 80s and a woman in her 70s were treated and taken to Cairns Hospital in a stable condition.

Police have set up an exclusion zone in Cairns.

Superintendent Tomlinson said the incident could have been “much worse”.

“I think it’s just by pure luck that no one else was injured, and we’re so grateful that there has been no other injuries as a result of this incident,” he said.

“It could have been much worse.”

He added it’s believed the people in the affected room were asleep when the helicopter crashed.

“I do believe that they were asleep at the time, and there were some windows that may have been impacted as a result of the incident occurring, but I’m not quite sure the extent of their injuries,” he said.

“But I am advised that they are OK.”

Queensland Ambulance Service Far Northern Region senior operations supervisor Caitlin Dennings said witnesses told her the incident “sounded like a bomb”.

“The helicopter impacted the roof of the hotel however two propellers have dislodged from the helicopter landing on the Cairns Esplanade, and there was a second propeller located in the hotel pool on the bottom floor,” she told The Cairns Post.

Police have advised the public to avoid the area.

An exclusion zone remains in place and includes The Esplanade and Minnie, Abbott and Florence streets.

Hilton Cairns and DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns cluster general manager Scott Wilson said the company was in the process of arranging accommodation for hotel guests.

“We can confirm that all guests and team members have been safely evacuated from the premises, and we are actively arranging alternative accommodations for these guests for this evening – 12th August,” he said.

“We are working with authorities as they investigate the incident.”