Helicopter crash in Cairns, Australia hotel claims pilot’s life

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, causing a fire and spilling fuel across the hotel. No one on the ground was injured, but two people on the top floor of the hotel were hospitalized with minor injuries. The pilot, the only occupant of the aircraft, was declared dead at the scene. Nautilus Aviation, the charter company involved, stated that the pilot had been with the company in a ground crew position for four months and had never flown in Australia. The pilot was licensed to fly helicopters in New Zealand but was not authorized by Nautilus Aviation to fly their helicopters. The company clarified that the pilot’s attendance at a party the night before was not a work event and was organized by friends. Nautilus Aviation operates luxury helicopters for various purposes, including flights, private charters, and emergency response. The company has conducted interviews with police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and will cooperate with ongoing investigations. The Queensland police are continuing to investigate the incident to determine the cause of the crash.

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