Blake Wilson, 23, has been named as the New Zealand pilot killed in a helicopter crash in Cairns. Photo: Facebook
Those who knew the New Zealand pilot who died in a Cairns helicopter crash on Monday say he was a "good all-round fella" and "one of the best out there".
Nautilus Aviation chief executive Aaron Finn confirmed on Tuesday that a member of the company's ground crew misappropriated a helicopter following a celebration among staff to mark his promotion.
Blake Wilson, 23, has since been named as the person who flew the helicopter a few minutes from Cairns Airport into the no-fly zone over the CBD, before crashing into the roof of the DoubleTree hotel.
Wilson, the sole occupant, died at the scene.
New Zealand police have confirmed they have notified the pilot's next of kin after a request from their Australian counterparts.
He held a New Zealand commercial helicopter licence, but was not authorised to fly in Australia.
Queensland Police said a formal identification process was still underway, but they believed the man found dead at the scene was Wilson.
"Queensland Police will prepare a report for the Coroner and will continue to investigate all lines of enquiry, including the circumstances leading up to the crash."
Christchurch Helicopters confirmed Wilson completed his Diploma in Aviation with the company in 2022.
"He was well-liked by the staff and his fellow classmates," it said in a statement.
"He will be missed by the team at Christchurch Helicopters and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time."
Palmerston North Boys' High School rector David Bovey confirmed Wilson was a former student, who finished studying there in 2018.
"He was a good fella, Blake," he said.
"He was academically pretty good, I think he got all levels of NCEA with a merit endorsement, but he was a friendly, personable young man."
Wilson was involved in "all sorts of things", played tennis, and was a mentor to a junior class, said Bovey.
"He just a just a good all round fella."
The news was tragic for everyone who knew Wilson, he said.
"It'll hit the staff because ... I mean, it's not that long ago that Blake was here, they'll know Blake, and they'll be feeling it," he said.
"It's always terribly sad when when somebody this age dies and in such a tragic accident.
"It's just really, really sad for his family."
According to Wilson's social media, he previously worked at Coronet Peak skifield and Queenstown guided walks company Ultimate Hikes, before obtaining his commercial helicopter licence from Christchurch Helicopters in 2022.
NZSki chief executive Paul Anderson confirmed Wilson had worked on the lifts at Coronet Peak, and as a guide at Ultimate Hikes for the 2019-2020 seasons. Both are owned by Queenstown company Trojan Holdings.
"He was a well-liked and outgoing member of our teams and we are deeply saddened to hear of his tragic passing," he said.
"Our thoughts and condolences go out to the Wilson family at this difficult time."
A friend of Wilson's, who RNZ has agreed not to name, said he worked with Wilson in Queenstown.
"He was a really lovely guy, one of the best out there."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed consular officials were providing assistance to Wilson's family.
The scene of the crash in the early hours of Monday. Photo: Twitter / Ghulam Abbas Shah
Preliminary report in 6-8 weeks
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said safety investigators would finish collecting evidence on Wednesday, and provide a preliminary report in six to eight weeks' time.
It had examined the accident site and the helicopter wreckage, retrieved data from the helicopter instruments, interviewed the helicopter company and witnesses, and collected CCTV footage, it said in a statement on its website.
The bureau investigated transport accidents to "uncover and share safety concerns and lessons" - not to take regulatory or criminal action.
"Based on the evidence gathered to date, the ATSB has assessed that other safety lessons may emerge from this accident.
"As such, the ATSB currently plans to continue the investigation through to the publication of a preliminary report in 6-8 weeks' time, at which point we will provide a further update on the course of the investigation.
"The preliminary report will detail the accident flight's sequence of events and evidence gathered by the ATSB."
- RNZ/ABC
