SYDNEY, Aug 13 (BBC): A pilot who died after they crashed a stolen helicopter into a hotel in Australia had attended a party with staff members the night before, their employer has said.
The helicopter belonged to Queensland-based helicopter tour agency Nautilus Aviation who said the employee had been celebrating at a private send-off with colleagues hours before the crash.
Nautilus added that the individual was licensed to fly helicopters in New Zealand but had never flown in Australia.
The pilot was killed in the accident, while two hotel guests were taken to hospital in a stable condition.
In a statement to the BBC, Nautilus said the individual had recently been promoted to a "ground crew position" at another of the company's bases.
On Sunday night, he joined colleagues at a private send-off, which was also attended by off-duty pilots. Nautilus clarified that this was "not a work event and was coordinated by friends".
Nautilus added that the individual later gained "unauthorised access to our helicopter hangar".
The helicopter hit the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in the northern Queensland city of Cairns at around 01:50 local time on Monday (16:50 BST Sunday), sparking a fire and forcing the evacuation of about 400 guests.
Authorities say the only occupant of the helicopter died at the scene, and two hotel guests - a man in his 80s and a woman in her 70s - were taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Amanda Kay, who was staying in the hotel on the main esplanade in Cairns, described seeing a helicopter flying "extra low", without lights in rainy weather.
"[It] has turned round and hit the building," she said, adding that the aircraft "blew up".
