Unauthorized Helicopter Flight Ends in Fatal Crash on Australian Hotel Roof

A non-pilot employee of Nautilus Aviation crashed a helicopter onto a hotel roof in Cairns, Australia. The man had a New Zealand pilot license but wasn’t authorized to fly the company's aircraft. The crash sparked a blaze, leading to the evacuation of 400 people and minor injuries.

An unauthorized flight ended in tragedy on Monday morning when a helicopter crashed onto the roof of the DoubleTree Hilton in Cairns, Australia, sparking a fire. The pilot, an employee of Nautilus Aviation, was not certified to fly their helicopters and had never flown in the country. The helicopter ignited upon impact, causing an evacuation of 400 people and minor injuries to two guests due to smoke inhalation.

Nautilus Aviation revealed that the deceased was a member of the ground crew who held a New Zealand pilot's license. He had recently been promoted and attended a social event with colleagues before making the unauthorized flight. The company described the helicopter as "misappropriated."

Queensland Police identified the crash as an isolated incident with no ongoing threat. Cairns Airport CEO Richard Barker confirmed that a review had shown no breach of airport security, stressing the airport's compliance with federal transport security protocols. The crash has raised questions about airport security and the employee's motive.

(With inputs from agencies.)