‘Incorrect’: CEO blasts chopper crash theory

The boss of a man who died in a fatal helicopter crash in Cairns has spoken out to shed light on the lead up to the incident.

The boss of a helicopter pilot who stole and crashed a chopper into a Cairns building, dying in the process, has opened up about events leading up to the horror incident.

New Zealand-born Blake Wilson died on Monday when the R44 Robinson helicopter he was flying slammed into the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton about 1.50am.

It has since been revealed Wilson, 23, had been celebrating a promotion at his work Nautilus Aviation having worked as a ground staff member at the business. This led to intense speculation and theories about what happened in the lead up to the crash.

Nautilus Aviation employee Blake Wilson. Picture: Facebook

Now, Nautilus Aviation chief executive Aaron Finn has spoken out to clarify the details of what happened at the celebration and his experience with Wilson as his boss.

He told the Cairns Post he last spoke with Wilson on Thursday or Friday last week, saying he had been “in a good place”.

“He just won employee of the month on Friday, we can’t fault him as a person or an employee,” he said.

“So we’re all at a loss as to why this has happened, dumbfounded.

“I can’t sort of say too much more than that, apart from he was a model employee.”

Mr Finn said staff at work had enjoyed a barbecue together at the business’ hanger on Thursday afternoon to celebrate the employee of the month award.

Nautilus Aviation chief executive Aaron Finn.

Blake Wilson had been a “model employee”.

He said parties were not permitted at the hangar and he had no knowledge of them ever occurring there.

On Sunday night, Wilson and some colleagues went for a night out around Cairns ahead of his starting a new role the following week.

Mr Finn said staff members who attended had told him they were home by 8.30pm.

“So it wasn’t a booze up, it wasn’t a huge night,” he said.

“Blake chose to stay on – he wasn’t rostered to work Monday morning.”

He said Wilson was meant to be flying out to Horn Island at 3pm on Monday for his new position.

“So if he wanted to stay out, that’s his prerogative,” Mr Finn said.

“But our other staff, we’ve confirmed the latest person to leave was 8.30pm.

“So for everyone to beat it up and say it was a big, boozy night, it’s incorrect.”

Investigations have revealed Wilson was in the hangar for about 45 minutes before taking off on his last flight.

Mr Finn said Wilson’s car was not among those police have identified coming and going from the scene and “we’re not sure how he got there”.

“We know he spent about 45 minutes to an hour in the hangar before taking off,” he said.

“That’s interesting because I’ve been there early in the morning getting ready for a rescue, and airport security or AFP will come in and say ‘hey what are you doing’.

“I’m not suggesting they did anything wrong, but Blake went unnoticed.”

A crane lifts the wreckage the helicopter off the roof of the hotel. Picture: Brendan Radke

The fiery scene on Monday morning. Picture: 9 News

The helicopter keys were left inside the aircraft, as is standard practice in the industry, Mr Finn confirmed.

Wilson had a helicopter pilot license in his homeland of New Zealand but had never flown in Australia.

It was not until Tuesday that Wilson was confirmed as the dead pilot, Mr Finn said, with staff hoping he had just overslept and missed his flight to Horn Island.

The destroyed aircraft cost about $600,000, but Mr Finn said: “You can replace aircraft, you can’t replace people.

“So you know, probably Blake’s family’s well being and our staff’s well being is our focus and concern.”

Investigations are continuing into the fatal incident.