A helicopter pilot has died after the aircraft crashed into a Cairns hotel, overnight.
Emergency services were called to reports a twin engine Helicopter collided with the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on the Esplanade at around 1.50am.
An exclusion zone remains in place encompassing The Esplanade, Minnie Street, Abbott Street and Florence Street.
The pilot and single occupant of the helicopter has been declared deceased, with forensic investigations underway to formally identify them.
The resulting impact caused a fire on top of the hotel; however the building was evacuated as a precaution and there were no injuries sustained by people on the ground.
One propeller flung onto the street while another landed in the the hotel pool.
The Forensic Crash Unit, working alongside the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), will prepare a report for the Coroner.
Investigations are ongoing.
