Pilot in Fatal Cairns Helicopter Crash Had High Blood Alcohol Content

In a recent incident that shook the city of Cairns, Australia, a helicopter crash resulted in the untimely death of its pilot and the evacuation of hundreds from the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. An official report released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has revealed that the pilot was significantly under the influence of alcohol during the unauthorized flight on August 12, 2024.

The pilot, identified as a member of the ground crew for charter company Nautilus Aviation, had access to the helicopter despite not being authorized to operate it. Eyewitnesses, including Veronica Knight, reported hearing two explosions as the helicopter collided with the hotel, which subsequently burst into flames.

According to the ATSB’s findings, the pilot had attended a celebration the previous night, following a promotion. The helicopter in question, a Robinson R44 Raven II, had its keys left inside and was parked conveniently in the hangar, allowing the pilot to access and maneuver it onto the helipad at Cairns Airport around 1:30 a.m. local time. Security footage corroborates witness reports of the pilot’s presence in the vicinity.

Investigative reports specify that, despite having flown a Robinson R44 before, the pilot lacked night flying endorsements and operated well below the required 1,000 feet over a populated area. Australian Federal Police and airport safety officers were on duty but did not witness the helicopter’s unauthorized departure, largely because it was conducted without the cockpit and strobe lights being activated – a measure seemingly taken to evade air traffic control and airport staff surveillance.

While the precise motivations for the pilot’s actions remain speculative, the ATSB noted the pilot’s substantial alcohol consumption earlier in the evening as captured on security cameras, coupled with the unauthorized flight conditions, played critical roles in the tragic event.

The absence of a cockpit or flight data recorder complicated the investigation. However, the ATSB was able to reconstruct the aircraft’s movements using its GPS tracker alongside ground radar data. Conclusively, mechanical failure was ruled out, as the helicopter was not upright upon impact, according to the ATSB report.