Helicopter crash in Cairns, Australia hotel results in pilot’s death

A pilot who was not authorized to fly a helicopter in Australia crashed into a luxury hotel in Cairns, resulting in his death. The twin-engine helicopter crashed into a building near the Cairns Esplanade, spilling fuel and causing damage to the hotel. Thankfully, no one on the ground was injured, but two hotel guests were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The pilot, who was the only occupant of the aircraft, was declared dead at the scene. The company he worked for, Nautilus Aviation, stated that the pilot had only been with the company for four months and had never flown in Australia. The pilot, originally licensed to fly helicopters in New Zealand, had attended a party with colleagues the night before the crash but was not authorized to fly Nautilus Aviation helicopters. The company operates luxury helicopters for various purposes and is cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation. Queensland police are continuing to investigate the incident to determine the cause of the crash and to formally identify the pilot.

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