Helicopter crashes into the top of a hotel in Cairns City, sparking mass exclusion zone

A helicopter has crashed into the top of a hotel in Cairns City, sparking mass evacuations from the area.

Queensland police declared a Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) and an exclusion zone has been enacted encompassing Esplanade, Minnie Street, Aplin Street and Grafton Street.

Emergency services were called to the crash at the Esplanade in Cairns City, Australia, at roughly 1.50am this morning. 

Queensland Ambulance confirmed in a post on social media that a ‘helicopter has crashed into the roof of a hotel’, before adding: ‘The building was evacuated as a precaution and there were no injuries sustained by people on the ground.’

Members of the public have been advised to avoid the area while police continue investigating the incident. 

A look at the police cordon in place outside a hotel in the Esplande in Cairns City where a helicopter has crashed

Queensland Ambulance said that there were 'no injuries sustained by people on the ground'

Queensland Ambulance said that there were ‘no injuries sustained by people on the ground’

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An aerial view of Cairns City in Australia, where a helicopter has crashed into the top of a hotel [Stock image]

According to social media posts, the hotel is believed to be the Hilton Doubletree.

One person said on X, formerly Twitter, that people are ‘sitting in evacuation centre at Hilton in Cairns, there has been no communication from authorities to we evacuees’.

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