A fatal helicopter crash occurred at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Cairns around 1:51 AM on August 12, resulting in the death of 23-year-old pilot Blake Wilson.

Before taking off, Wilson turned off the helicopter's strobe lights, making it difficult for air traffic control to detect his flight.

During the flight, Wilson flew below the required altitude of 1,000 feet over built-up areas, never exceeding 500 feet.

Investigations revealed that Wilson, who was significantly under the influence of alcohol, was not qualified to fly at night.

Wilson accessed the helicopter without authorization after a farewell party, where he had been drinking with friends.

Bureau Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell remarked it was 'miraculous' that no one else was seriously injured in the incident.

Although Wilson had over 150 hours of flight experience, he had never flown a Robinson R44 helicopter at night and was employed as a ground handler.

Witnesses confirmed that he had a significant blood-alcohol content at the time of the crash, although specific levels were not disclosed.

The unauthorized flight lasted approximately four minutes, and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau found no airworthiness issues that contributed to the crash.

The helicopter was seen flying in a no-fly zone over the Cairns CBD before crashing onto the hotel roof, shattering windows in nearby rooms.

Upon impact, the helicopter's propellers became dislodged, with one landing on the street and the other in the hotel pool, both still on fire.

The crash led to the evacuation of approximately 400 hotel guests, and two guests were briefly hospitalized for smoke inhalation.