A pilot who died after crashing a stolen helicopter into an Australian resort had attended a celebration with employees the night time earlier than, his employer mentioned.
The helicopter belonged to Queensland helicopter tour operator Nautilus Aviation, which mentioned the worker was attending a non-public farewell celebration with colleagues hours earlier than the crash.
Nautilus added the person had a license to fly a helicopter in New Zealand however had by no means flown in Australia.
The pilot died within the crash and two resort company have been taken to hospital in steady situation.
Nautilus mentioned in an announcement to the BBC that the particular person had not too long ago been promoted to a “floor crew place” at one other of the corporate’s bases.
On Sunday night time, he attended a non-public send-off together with his colleagues, which was additionally attended by off-duty airmen. Nautilus clarified that this was “not a piece occasion and was coordinated by associates.”
Nautilus added that the person later “entered our helicopter hangar with out authorization.”
The helicopter crashed into the DoubleTree by Hilton Resort in Cairns, a metropolis in northern Queensland, at 1:50am native time on Monday (16:50 BST on Sunday), inflicting a hearth that pressured the evacuation of about 400 company.
The only real passenger on board the helicopter died on the scene, and two resort company – a person in his 80s and a lady in her 70s – have been taken to hospital in steady situation, authorities mentioned.
Amanda Kay, who was staying at a resort on Cairns’ principal esplanade, described seeing a helicopter flying “tremendous low” with no lights on a wet day.
“[It] The airplane rotated and hit the constructing, she mentioned, including that the airplane “exploded.”
One other bystander mentioned she noticed the helicopter fly over the resort twice earlier than the collision.
“Boy, that helicopter went so quick. It is unbelievable,” one lady says within the video, which exhibits the violent aftermath of the crash.
“Issues received out of hand, that is all.”
In accordance with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), two of the helicopter’s rotor blades got here off in the course of the impression and landed on the Esplanade and resort swimming pool.
In an announcement, Nautilus Air mentioned it had accomplished interviews with the Australian Transport Security Bureau (ATSB) and Queensland Police Service (QPS) and was working with full transparency to uncover the occasions surrounding the incident.
“We provide our heartfelt condolences to the person’s household and all these affected by this tragedy, and proceed to supply help to our staff throughout this very difficult time,” the assertion learn.
“We’ll proceed to work intently with the QPS and ATSB to analyze the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Town of Cairns is situated in northern Queensland and is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot attributable to its proximity to the Nice Barrier Reef.
