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    Unauthorized pilot who died in wreck was drunk and ‘put to bed’ before crashing swiped helicopter into hotel

    By Isabel Keane,

    21 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2jMQ1s_0uxezWSN00

    A rookie helicopter company worker got so drunk celebrating a promotion, he had to be “put to bed” by colleagues — before he swiped a chopper and died by crashing into an Australian hotel, according to reports.

    Blake Wilson, 23, partied Sunday night at a bash in Cairns celebrating his promotion at Nautilus Aviation, where he had been working as a ground crew employee for four months, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

    He got so “intoxicated,” he had to be “put to bed” by co-workers, witnesses told the Daily Mail.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2wn4yb_0uxezWSN00
    Blake Wilson, 23, got so drunk celebrating a promotion that he stole a chopper and died by crashing into an Australian hotel, according to reports. Facebook / Blake Wilson

    Wilson — who had a pilot’s license in New Zealand but was not permitted to fly in Australia — then got up and “gained unauthorized access” to a hangar and “misappropriated” an R44 Robinson helicopter, the company said.

    Hotel evacuates 400 people after helicopter crashes into roof and sparks massive fireball: ‘Sounded like a bomb’

    He hovered over a no-fly zone above the central business district before crashing into the roof of DoubleTree by Hilton just before 2 a.m. Monday, officials said.

    Wilson was killed as the chopper crashed and smashed the windows of several rooms.

    A woman in her 70s and man in his 80s were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.

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    Nautilus Aviation CEO Aaron Finn confirmed that off-duty pilots and other employees gathered Sunday night for dinner and drinks to celebrate Wilson’s recent promotion.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2kkNWY_0uxezWSN00
    Wilson flew over a no-fly zone above the central business district before crashing into the roof of DoubleTree by Hilton just before 2 a.m. Monday, officials said. AP
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2yZzfV_0uxezWSN00
    A woman in her 70s and man in his 80s were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)/AFP via Getty Images

    “This was a privately organized send-off for the individual involved in Monday morning’s incident, who was recently promoted to a ground crew position at another one of our bases,” Finn said.

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    “This was not a work event and had been coordinated by friends.”

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

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Z00iE_0uxezWSN00
    Wilson was killed as the chopper crashed and smashed the windows of several rooms. Facebook / Blake Wilson
    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0GaSXb_0uxezWSN00
    Wilson had a pilot’s license in New Zealand but was not permitted to fly in Australia, according to reports. Facebook / Blake Wilson

    “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.”

    For top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com.

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