Pilot of helicopter ‘affected by alcohol’ before crash on hotel roof

Image made from video and supplied by Australia’s national transport safety investigator, shows helicopter debris in a hotel swimming pool (Australia’s national transport safety investigator/AP)

A pilot killed when a helicopter crashed on the roof of an Australian hotel was affected by alcohol and was not qualified to fly at night, an investigation concluded.

Two hotel guests were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation and 400 people had to be evacuated from the hotel following the crash in the tropical city of Cairns on August 12.