News | Accident and Emergency

31 Aug 2025 15:25

| outlook hotmail | yahoo mail | gmail | news | weather | finance | shopping | about nzcity | Search |

NZCity News

News

Home > News > Accident and Emergency

The man who stole a helicopter and crashed it into a hotel in Cairns had a New Zealand pilot's licence

The man who stole a helicopter and crashed it into a hotel in Cairns had a New Zealand pilot's licence

14 August 2024

The helicopter was flown unauthorised and collided into a hotel roof early Monday morning, killing the pilot.

Helicopter tour company Nautilus Aviation says the pilot was one of its employees.

It says the person had only begun working for it about four months ago and was not authorised to fly helicopters for the business.

Queensland Police have named the pilot as 23-year-old Blake Wilson.

The company says although Wilson held a New Zealand pilot's licence, they'd never flown in Australia.

>> More Accident and Emergency News

Subscribe to NZCity's Accident and Emergency articles

© 2025 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

Other Accident and Emergency News

31 Aug: A person's been arrested for throwing a bottle at a Police vehicle during a crack down on anti-social road users in Manawatu

31 Aug: State Highway 50, in Central Hawkes Bay, is closed following a serious crash

31 Aug: A popular Auckland park is closing to the public - in anticipation of extreme winds

31 Aug: Another fire truck has broken down as Auckland crews battled a massive fire at a flower nursery

31 Aug: A fire investigator will be attending the scene of a massive fire at a flower nursery in Auckland

30 Aug: Three people are seriously injured after a car crashed in the small Waikato town of Karamu, about 7:30 this evening

30 Aug: NZTA's expecting it may have to briefly close Auckland's Harbour Bridge over today - due to severe gale winds

Top Stories

RUGBY
A former Welsh rugby international claims NZR Players Association boss Rob Nichol told players that substance use is the cause of serious brain injuries, weeks before the passing of Maori All Black Shane Christie More...

BUSINESS
A road freight association's raising concerns a yet-to-be-strengthened Hawkes Bay bridge's costing the region millions More...

Today's News

Motoring:
A switch to NASCAR has helped motorsport ace Shane van Gisbergen find his passion for the sport again 15:17

International:
Molly's death scene on A Country Practice is iconic. Anne Tenney and Shane Withington have never spoken together till now 15:07

Rugby:
A former Welsh rugby international claims NZR Players Association boss Rob Nichol told players that substance use is the cause of serious brain injuries, weeks before the passing of Maori All Black Shane Christie 14:57

Health & Safety:
A record number of cases of bacterial disease leptospirosis were recorded in 2023 14:07

Law and Order:
A person's been arrested for throwing a bottle at a Police vehicle during a crack down on anti-social road users in Manawatu 13:47

Rugby:
All Black Caleb Clarke has explained his leadership role as a senior player in a struggling Auckland NPC side 13:37

Motoring:
State Highway 50, in Central Hawkes Bay, is closed following a serious crash 13:27

Law and Order:
Police seize more than $70m in tobacco and vape products in historic bust 12:47

Rugby League:
The Raiders believe their Canberra fortress will be a huge factor in navigating the NRL play-offs 11:57

Law and Order:
A man has been jailed for three years and nine months after ramming his car into a crowd helping his injured girlfriend 11:27

News Search

© 2025 New Zealand City Ltd