Nautilus Aviation has confirmed that a member of its ground crew, 23-year-old Blake Wilson from New Zealand, was involved in a tragic helicopter crash into the roof of a Cairns hotel on Monday morning. Mr. Wilson, who had been employed by the company for four months, gained unauthorized access to the company’s helicopter hangar and misappropriated one of the aircraft.
Nautilus Aviation CEO Aaron Finn expressed deep sorrow over the incident, noting that Mr. Wilson held a New Zealand pilot’s license but had never been authorized to fly in Australia. Mr. Finn also clarified that the unauthorized flight followed a private gathering organized by off-duty employees on Sunday night to celebrate Mr. Wilson’s recent promotion to a ground crew position at another base.
“This was not a company-sanctioned event and was organized privately by friends of the individual,” Mr. Finn stated. “We are cooperating fully with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the Queensland Police Service in their ongoing investigation.”
The ATSB has begun analyzing recording devices retrieved from the helicopter to gain insights into the flight plan and circumstances leading up to the crash. ATSB Chief Angus Mitchell indicated that the investigation will delve into aspects beyond typical transport safety protocols, given the unusual nature of the incident.
The helicopter crashed into the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel shortly before 2 AM on Monday, prompting the evacuation of nearly 400 guests. Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying at high speed and low altitude along the foreshore before the collision.
In response to the incident, Cairns Airport, from which the helicopter was taken, has conducted a thorough review of its security measures. Richard Barker, CEO of Cairns Airport, assured that the security program remains robust and uncompromised. The airport has implemented additional precautions, including updating security codes across all facilities.
Authorities, including the Department of Home Affairs and Australian Federal Police, are collaborating to investigate the breach and ensure heightened security measures moving forward.
