Cairns police said a helicopter crashed into the roof of a Hilton hotel in the city, causing a fire to break out and forcing hundreds of guests to evacuate the building as a precaution.

The crash occurred on Monday at around 1:50 a.m. local time.

Pilot declared dead on site, debris fell to the ground

“The pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft were found at the scene and pronounced deceased. Forensic examinations are currently underway to formally identify him,” Cairns Police said in a statement..

Parts of the helicopter’s rotor blades landed in the pool of the Double Tree Hotel, an emergency services official said. A man was treated at the scene with life-threatening injuries.

Australian broadcaster ABC also reported that two other patients were admitted to Cairns Hospital in stable condition.

After the incident, a fire was seen on the roof of the building, but it appeared to have been extinguished by daybreak.

Hotel guests reported that they were woken up by a loud bang and shortly afterwards heard alarms and requests to leave the building. The emergency services were quickly on site.

Cairns: Beach resort near the Great Barrier Reef

Cairns is a popular tourist city on the northeast coast and a gateway to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

In addition, a team of government investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau was dispatched to the scene of the accident.

msh/jsi (AFP, Reuters)