Intoxicated Pilot's Fatal Cairns Helicopter Crash Investigated

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has concluded its investigation into a helicopter crash in Cairns, revealing that the pilot, Blake Wilson, was heavily intoxicated and lacked necessary qualifications for the unauthorized flight. Wilson, a 23-year-old ground crew employee at Nautilus Aviation, took the helicopter from Cairns Airport after a night of drinking, resulting in a crash into the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel that led to his death and the evacuation of 400 guests. The report highlights that Wilson, who held pilot licenses from Australia and New Zealand, did not have the appropriate endorsements for night flying and flew significantly below the legal altitude over built-up areas. Additionally, he turned off the helicopter's strobe lights, making it invisible to air traffic control, which investigators noted as an attempt to conceal the flight. The ATSB emphasized that Wilson's actions were unauthorized, and the investigation found no broader safety issues beyond this incident. Nautilus Aviation confirmed that Wilson's access to the helicopter was unauthorized, and he was not permitted to fly for the company.