Blake Wilson Death; – A pilot who tragically lost his life when the helicopter he was operating crashed into a hotel in Cairns was found to have been “affected by a significant amount of alcohol” at the time of the incident, according to the findings of the nation’s air safety investigator.
An inquiry was initiated following the helicopter’s “unauthorised” departure from a hangar at a far north Queensland airport in the early morning hours, culminating in a catastrophic explosion in the no-fly zone of Cairns’ central business district in August.
The pilot, identified by authorities as 23-year-old Blake Wilson, perished when the helicopter collided with the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton around 2 a.m., leading to the evacuation of approximately 400 guests. Wilson was the only person aboard the helicopter.
On Thursday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released its final report regarding the crash, which also resulted in an elderly couple being hospitalized. The report indicated, “The pilot was affected by a significant amount of alcohol before and during the flight.”
Furthermore, the report noted, “The pilot further increased risk to themselves and those on the ground by conducting the unauthorised flight well below the 1,000 ft allowed for flight over a built-up area.”
Nautilus Aviation, the pilot’s employer, previously stated that Wilson had gained unauthorised access to the helicopter in its hangar following a farewell party that was not organized by the charter company. It was also noted that he held a New Zealand pilot’s licence but had never flown in Australia and was not permitted to operate a Nautilus Aviation helicopter.
