Tragic Helicopter Crash in Cairns
- A young pilot, Blake Wilson, crashed a stolen helicopter into a hotel in Cairns, resulting in his tragic death.
- The pilot was not authorized to fly the company's helicopters and had recently moved to Australia for a new adventure.
- The incident sparked a massive blaze, leading to a mass evacuation of the area.
A tragic incident unfolded in Cairns, Queensland, when a helicopter piloted by 23-year-old Blake Wilson crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel early Monday morning, resulting in a massive fire and the evacuation of approximately 400 guests and staff. Wilson, who had recently been awarded 'employee of the month' at Nautilus Aviation, was killed in the crash. Two individuals, aged 83 and 76, were hospitalized for smoke inhalation but are in stable condition. Wilson, originally from Palmerston North, New Zealand, had moved to Cairns in March and worked as part of Nautilus Aviation's ground crew. Although he held a New Zealand commercial pilot's license, he was not authorized to fly helicopters in Australia. Nautilus Aviation's CEO, Aaron Finn, expressed shock at the incident, stating that Wilson had appeared to be in a good mental state and that the farewell dinner held for him the night before was a private gathering, not a work event. Witnesses reported that the helicopter took off from the Nautilus hangar shortly after 1:45 AM and crashed just four minutes later. Investigators are looking into various aspects of the crash, including whether it was a deliberate act or an accident. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has confirmed that they are cooperating fully with the investigation, which will also explore the circumstances surrounding Wilson's unauthorized access to the helicopter. Authorities have reassured the public that they believe this incident is isolated, emphasizing that the crash could have resulted in even greater casualties given the helicopter's trajectory and the location of the impact.