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Helicopter Crashes Into Hilton Hotel

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2 months ago

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A pilot has died after their helicopter crashed into the roof of a hotel in Australia during an “unauthorised” early morning flight.

The aircraft hit the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in the northern Queensland city of Cairns at around 01:50 local time on Monday (16:50 BST Sunday), sparking a fire and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of guests.

Authorities say the only occupant of the helicopter died at the scene, and two hotel guests – a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s – were taken to hospital in a stable condition.

Some local media reports have suggested that the helicopter was stolen.

Nautilus Aviation – which owned the helicopter – said it would work closely with all authorities in Queensland as they examined the “unauthorised use of one of our helicopters in the early hours of this morning”.

Amanda Kay, who was staying in the hotel on the main esplanade in Cairns, described seeing a helicopter flying “extra low”, without lights in rainy weather.

“[It] has turned round and hit the building,” she said, adding that the aircraft “blew up”.

Another bystander said she saw the helicopter fly past the hotel twice in the moments before the collision.

“Boy that was going fast, that helicopter. Unbelievable,” a woman said, in video showing the fiery aftermath of the crash.

“It was just going out of control, that thing was.”

Two of the helicopter’s rotor blades came off on impact, landing on the esplanade and in the hotel pool, according to Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS).

“There’s been reports it sounded like a bomb, and [that after] seeing smoke and fire from that, a lot of the occupants of the hotel were very unsure about the situation,” spokeswoman Caitlin Dennings told media.

Another tourist staying at the hotel, Alastair Salmon, described it to the ABC as “a colossal ear-deafening bang”.

Mr Salmon, from London, was among about 400 people who were evacuated from the hotel.

He described seeing the helicopter’s rotor blade on the ground nearby, and mistaking it for a lamppost.

“Then we looked up there and you could see this massive hole in the window of the building,” he told the ABC.

Streets around the hotel have been cordoned off and an emergency situation was declared by police.

Queensland Police and the aviation safety watchdog, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, are continuing investigations into the circumstances of the crash.

Located in northern Queensland, the city of Cairns is a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.

Credit: BBC

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Society

Just In: Court Grants Ex-Taraba Governor Darius Ishaku ₦150m Bail

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16 mins ago

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October 3, 2024

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The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has granted former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, bail to the tune of ₦150 million with two sureties in the same amount.

 

 

Ishaku, who governed Taraba State from May 2015 to May 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 15-count charge of criminal breach of trust, conspiracy, and misappropriation of public funds totaling ₦27 billion.

 

 

 

Justice Sylvanus Oriji imposed strict conditions on Ishaku’s bail including two sureties, each resident in Abuja, with verified house addresses; one surety must be a director in the Federal Civil Service; ₦150 million bail bond.

 

 

 

Ishaku and co-defendant, Bello Hero, have also been barred from leaving the country without court permission.

 

 

The EFCC, represented by Rotimi Jacobs, did not oppose Ishaku’s bail request, citing his previous compliance with administrative bail.

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Society

Amen Estate Saga: Babatunde Gbadamosi Drags Ex wife To The Cleaners!! …… Revealed how her four marriages to different men hit the rock.

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45 mins ago

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October 3, 2024

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Amen Estate Saga: Babatunde Gbadamosi Drags Ex wife To The Cleaners!! .

The politician escalates his media feud with ex-wife Sade Balogun, accusing her of marital misconduct in a cryptic post on X.

 

 

The ongoing media feud between Babatunde Gbadamosi and his ex-wife, Sade Balogun, shows no sign of slowing down as the former Lagos gubernatorial candidate aired personal grievances via a cryptic message on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

 

In the post, Gbadamosi detailed aspects of Sade’s past marriages, questioning her role in the breakdown of her relationships with four different husbands, including himself.

In the now viral post, Gbadamosi referenced her previous marriages, claiming that her first husband was abandoned at Heathrow Airport following a quarrel before she left Nigeria.

He also alleged that she carried another man’s pregnancy into her second marriage, and that her third husband ended up in a mental institution after discovering her with a pastor.

Gbadamosi, who was her fourth husband, expressed frustration over what he described as “21 years of constant strife,” which ultimately led him to marry another woman in search of peace.

 

He further accused her of sitting on a “globally known brand” that he created, through what he described as “diabolical means.”

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Babatunde Gbadamosi ex-wife media feud

Babatunde Gbadamosi ex-wife media feud

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Nigeria @64: Oando Boss, Wale Tinubu Urges Nigerians to work together 

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2 days ago

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October 1, 2024

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As Nigeria celebrates her 64th Independence anniversary, the Group Chief Executive of Oando group, Mr. Wale Tinubu, has enjoined the citizens to work together for the growth of the country.

 

In a statement posted on his social media handles, Mr. Tinubu wrote:

 

 

‘’Stitch by Stitch, We Weave Our Nation’s Tapestry.

 

 

 

 

As we celebrate Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day, we reflect on the journey that has brought us this far. Like a tapestry woven with care and precision, our nation is a beautiful blend of diverse cultures, resilient spirits, and bold aspirations.

 

 

 

Today, we honour the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a future filled with promise. Let us continue to work together, stitch by stitch, building a nation that is vibrant, inclusive, and unafraid to dream big.

 

 

 

Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!

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