Bombshell twist in case of pilot Blake Wilson killed after stealing a helicopter and crashing it into the DoubleTree by Hilton in Cairns Blake Wilson was the pilot of 'stolen' chopper Helicopter crashed into roof of Cairns hotel Pilot died at the scene with two hospitalised Leaked document reveals controller was on break READ MORE: Pilot who was killed after crashing 'stolen' chopper identified By Max Aitchison For Daily Mail Australia Published: 02:56 BST, 23 August 2024 | Updated: 03:01 BST, 23 August 2024 e-mail View comments The single air traffic controller on duty at Cairns airport when a stolen helicopter smashed into a luxury hotel was reportedly reclining on a chair and missed the entire incident. Last week, Daily Mail Australia revealed that New Zealander Blake Wilson, 23, was piloting a Robinson 44 helicopter when it crashed into the roof of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Cairns, Far North Queensland , at 1.50am on Monday.
The 'unauthorised', four-minute journey took off from the Nautilus Aviation hangar at Cairns Airport shortly after 1.45am and completed several erratic circuits across the mudflats and over the city's Esplanade, which is a no-fly zone. Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying dangerously low before it smashed into the hotel roof and burst into flames.
Miraculously, only Mr Wilson was killed. Two elderly guests were treated at hospital for smoke inhalation, while almost 400 people had to be evacuated in the middle of the night. Now an investigat.