Airport scrutiny follows 'inside job' helicopter crash

Airport security could be reviewed after a helicopter crashed into a hotel in far north Queensland. (Brian Cassey/AAP PHOTOS)

It is too early to tell whether a far north Queensland airport needs to review security after a fatal chopper crash, the state's premier says.

Hundreds of hotel guests were evacuated in the early hours of Monday when a pilot died after misappropriating a helicopter and striking the roof of DoubleTree by Hilton in the Cairns city centre.

The man who flew the chopper had been an employee of an aircraft charter company for four months, police said on Tuesday.

They believe the man was 23-year-old Blake Wilson from the Cairns suburb of Smithfield.

Nautilus Aviation base in Cairns
The unauthorised pilot took the helicopter from his former employer, charter firm Nautilus Aviation.

Nautilus Aviation, which employed the pilot in a ground crew position, said he had gained unauthorised access to a helicopter in their hangar after a farewell event not co-ordinated by the company. 

It said he had a New Zealand pilot's licence but had never flown in Australia and was not authorised to use a Nautilus Aviation helicopter.

"Cairns airport may well consider to look at their specific arrangements, but I think it's probably too early to tell," Premier Steven Miles said when asked if a review was needed into airport security. 

The crash probe is expected to involve the Department of Home Affairs, which oversees airport security.

Probing the airport's security could be worthwhile, aviation expert Peter Carter said.

"The security arrangement at that airport is the same as at most, if not all, general aviation airports in Australia. So a review is probably very worthwhile, in my opinion," he told AAP.

"It's an inside job, so it's very hard to create security arrangements to prevent that sort of thing occurring.

"The company might consider different levels of access depending on the seniority of the employee ... it should come to its own conclusion as to the arrangements it makes for security, in my opinion."

Broken window and damaged rooftop after a helicopter crash in Cairns
Two guests were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation after the chopper crashed into their hotel.

Cairns Airport said an initial review indicated site access had not been compromised.

"Our thoughts are with all affected by the distressing incident at Cairns Esplanade," CEO Richard Barker said in a statement.

"Cairns Airport operates under a federally approved, multi-layered transport security program.

"To reassure our community, we wish to confirm a review has been conducted, showing no compromise of our airport fence or access points."

The helicopter was seen flying for at least five minutes in the Cairns CBD before it crashed into the hotel roof, smashing windows of nearby rooms with one occupied by a sleeping elderly couple.

Two guests, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s, were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and have been released.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store