A pilot who died after crashing a stolen helicopter into a hotel in Australia had been at a party with colleagues the night before, according to their employer, as reported by BBC.
The helicopter, owned by Nautilus Aviation, was involved in the crash. Nautilus said the pilot, who was licensed to fly in New Zealand but not in Australia, had been celebrating with friends at a private event hours before the accident. This event was not a work-related gathering and was organized by friends.
Later, the pilot gained unauthorized access to the helicopter hangar. The helicopter crashed into the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns at around 1:50 AM local time, causing a fire and forcing the evacuation of about 400 guests. The pilot was killed, and two hotel guests, an elderly man and woman, were taken to the hospital but are in stable condition.
Witnesses described seeing the helicopter flying unusually low and fast before it crashed, with some noting the aircraft appeared out of control. Two rotor blades from the helicopter ended up on the hotel grounds and in the pool.
Nautilus Aviation has fully cooperated with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Queensland Police Service, offering their condolences and support to those affected by the tragedy. They are working closely with authorities to investigate the incident, BBC reported.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62r7lpx421o