Cairns helicopter crash: The major unanswered questions about the helicopter tragedy - as astonishing timeline reveals how incident unfolded READ MORE: Pilot who was killed after crashing 'stolen' chopper identified By Max Aitchison In Cairns For Daily Mail Australia Published: 14:52 BST, 13 August 2024 | Updated: 14:59 BST, 13 August 2024 e-mail View comments Exactly why a young trainee pilot who was enjoying an 'adventure' in Australia decided to embark on a fatal helicopter flight after a night of drinking to celebrate a recent promotion still remains a mystery 48 hours after his death. Daily Mail Australia revealed on Tuesday that New Zealander Blake Wilson , who is believed to be in his mid-20s, was the pilot on board a Robinson 44 helicopter which smashed into the roof the DoubleTree by Hilton in Cairns in Far North Queensland at 1.50am on Monday.
The 'unauthorised' journey took off from the Nautilus Aviation hangar at Cairns Airport shortly after 1.45am, flying down over the city's Esplanade, which is a no-fly zone. Just four minutes into the flight, witnesses reported seeing the aircraft flying dangerously low over the mud flats 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. As investigators for Queensland Police and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) puzzle over the .