A fatal helicopter crash in Australia raises questions: The pilot had stolen the helicopter without permission.
The pilot had stolen the aircraft without authorization. (Symbolic image) – Keystone
According to his employer, the pilot who died in an accident in Australia flew the helicopter that crashed into a hotel roof without permission. The luxury charter company Nautilus Aviation announced on Tuesday that the man had stolen the helicopter on Monday, a few hours after a farewell party with colleagues. The man was a member of the ground staff and had “entered the helicopter hangar without permission and stolen one of our helicopters,” the company said.
Several hours before the crash, he was celebrating farewell with colleagues because he was to take on a new position within the company. The pilot who died in the accident had a New Zealand helicopter flying license, but he had never flown in Australia before.
Explosion in hotel: guests evacuated
On Monday, hundreds of guests of the Hilton chain’s DoubleTree hotel in the popular holiday city of Cairns were evacuated to safety after the helicopter crashed into the roof and caused an explosion. The pilot was killed in the accident and two hotel guests had to be treated for minor injuries.
After the accident, fragments of the helicopter’s propeller landed in the hotel’s pool. The Australian Transport Safety Authority sent a team of experts to the scene of the accident. Cairns in northwest Australia is a popular destination for travelers as a starting point for the famous Great Barrier Reef.
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