A recently promoted ground crew member at a Far North Queensland tour company was allegedly the pilot of the stolen helicopter that crashed into a luxury hotel on Cairns Esplanade.
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Blake Wilson, a 23-year-old New Zealander, was celebrating a promotion to ground crew at Nautilus Aviation tour company and was allegedly drinking with off-duty pilots and coworkers on the night of the crash.
Around 400 guests were evacuated after the helicopter, allegedly stolen from the Nautilus Aviation hanger, crashed into the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel roof at 1.50am on August 12.
Nautilus Aviation confirmed in a bombshell statement on August 13 that Wilson had been hired "approximately four months ago" and was planning to move to another of the company's bases following his promotion.
The scenic helicopter tour company said Wilson held a New Zealand CPL(H) pilot's licence but had "never flown in Australia or for Nautilus Aviation and were not authorised to fly Nautilus Aviation helicopters".
The statement alleged that Wilson "gained unauthorised access to our helicopter hangar and misappropriated one of our helicopters".
The company said the drinks were "not a work event and was coordinated by friends".
"We offer our heartfelt condolences to the individual's family and all who have been affected by this tragedy and continue to offer our support to our employees during this very challenging period."
Wilson's community grieves
Wilson's family have been notified of his death by New Zealand Police after receiving the news from their Queensland counterparts.
The Palmerston North boy has been described as "a good all round fella" by his former high school rector David Bovey, New Zealand newspaper RNZ reported.
"It'll hit the staff because ... I mean, it's not that long ago that Blake was here, they'll know Blake, and they'll be feeling it," the Palmerston North Boys' rector said.
"He was a good fella, Blake," he said.
Hotel evacuated
Investigators cleared the area and established an exclusion zone around the hotel asking members of the public to avoid the city's Esplanade around Minnie Street, Abbott Street and Florence Street.
Police said the crash started a blaze on the hotel's roof but guests and staff had been safely evacuated.
Paramedics on the scene transported two patients to hospital for treatment who were described as "distressed" but not physically injured.
DoubleTree by Hilton Cairns confirmed that alternate accommodation would be arranged for displaced guests for the night of August 12.
Police said engineers would establish that the hotel is structurally sound before guests were welcomed back.
Major clean up required
Investigators said they "would work out over the course of the next few hours" how to remove the helicopter from the hotel roof on August 12.
Queensland Ambulance senior operations supervisor in Cairns Caitlin Denning said it was "too unsafe" to inspect the crash from inside the hotel.
"The helicopter impacted the roof of the hotel, however two propellers have dislodged," she said.
"One landed on the Cairns Esplanade and there was a second propeller located in the hotel pool on the bottom floor and it was on fire.
"There were reports of it sounding like a bomb, and seeing the fire and smoke, a lot of the occupants of the hotel were unsure of the situation."
The DoubleTree by Hilton hotel shares a block with Vision Cairns Apartments, Crystalbrook Riley Hotel and Crystalbrook's towering rooftop restaurant Rocco.
The Forensic Crash Unit and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will prepare a report for the Coroner, police said.
An investigation into the crash is continuing.
Anna Houlahan
Anna Houlahan is a journalist for Explore and the Senior. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au
