Pilot who crashed helicopter into Australian hotel had high blood alcohol level, report says

A report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau revealed that a helicopter pilot who crashed into a hotel in Cairns had a high blood alcohol level during the unauthorized flight. The incident occurred on August 12, 2024, when the pilot struck the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. The pilot, a member of Nautilus Aviation's ground crew, was not authorized to fly the helicopter. He had attended a party the night before and accessed the aircraft, which had its keys left inside. The report noted that he flew below the legal altitude over a built-up area. Investigators could not determine the pilot's intentions or why he took the helicopter. They found no mechanical failure, but the pilot had not flown at night before and attempted to conceal his departure from air traffic control.