"Investigate whether the Australian hotel crash helicopter was stolen"
Aug 12, 2024
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A helicopter crashed on the roof of the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Cairns, Australia, at around 1:50 a.m. on the 12th (local time), according to Australian media, including News,
The helicopter's pilot and sole occupant were killed at the scene and a fire broke out on the roof of the building, forcing the evacuation of about 400 guests.
No injuries were reported.
Due to the impact of the accident, two helicopter propellers fell off and one fell into a hotel swimming pool.
The helicopter was reportedly stolen from Cairns Airport.
As a result, there are speculations that it may be a deliberate accident.
In response to questions from local media, Acting Queensland Police Department Director Shane Holmes could not provide a clear answer.
"In the early stages of the investigation, it is currently impossible to determine whether it was an intentional act or a simple accident," he said.
However, it was assumed that there was no connection with other criminal acts.
A hotel guest commented, "It's a huge shock to the building"There was a lot of chaos as people evacuated all at once," he said.
Meanwhile, the pilot was not yet identified, and Nautilus Aviation, the helicopter-owned company, said it had located all of its employees, but that it was not an employee of the company.
Company officials are working closely with the Queensland Police Department, the Australian Transportation Safety Authority and other authorities to investigate the unauthorized use of the helicopter."
bellho@sportschosun.com
