A pilot who died after crashing a stolen helicopter into a hotel in Australia had attended a party with staff members the night before, according to their employer. The helicopter was owned by Queensland-based tour company Nautilus Aviation, which revealed that the employee had been at a private farewell gathering with colleagues just hours before the accident.
Nautilus stated that the pilot was licensed to fly helicopters in New Zealand but had no experience flying in Australia. The crash occurred at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns around 01:50 local time on Monday, causing a fire and leading to the evacuation of approximately 400 guests. The pilot was killed, and two hotel guests were hospitalized in stable condition.
The company clarified that the gathering was a personal event organized by friends, not a work function. They also noted that the individual had gained “unauthorized access” to the helicopter hangar. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying unusually low and without lights before it hit the building and exploded.
Two rotor blades from the helicopter were found on the esplanade and in the hotel pool. Nautilus Aviation has been fully cooperating with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) during their investigation.
Nautilus expressed condolences to the pilot’s family and others affected by the incident and pledged continued support to their employees during this difficult time. The city of Cairns, located in northern Queensland, is known for its tourism, particularly its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.