An Olympic ski jumping legend has been left stunned after a helicopter operated by his company was stolen from an airfield.
Thomas Morgenstern’s Robinson R44 vanished from a hangar at Austria’s Mauterndorf airfield between 2am and 4am on Monday (28 Sep).
The thieves allegedly disabled security cameras and covered local webcams before wheeling the chopper out and taking off.
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Investigators believe a pilot and a second suspect with knowledge of aircraft and helicopter mechanics may have been involved.
They also stole 365 litres of kerosene – more than twice the R44’s roughly 170-litre tank capacity.
The helicopter reportedly stopped to refuel in Croatia before its trail headed towards Albania or North Macedonia, as reported by Need To Know.
Morgenstern, 39, told Austrian media: “I wake up every morning hoping it was all a joke.
“I kept looking for a hidden camera the whole time.
“I also find it incomprehensible that someone can steal a helicopter in the middle of the night and fly it across several national borders.
“Honestly, I don’t really think there’s much chance of success, or that the helicopter will come back to the hangar.”
Salzburg State Criminal Police are investigating the extraordinary theft.
Lungau district police commander Felix Gautsch said: “There was a break-in through the back door of the hangar.
“The helicopter was wheeled out of the hangar on this manoeuvring trolley, which was then put back neatly in its place.”
The chopper was then filled up at the airfield’s fuel station before taking off.
Gautsch added: “There are fingerprints and DNA traces. But we have to check whether they might also belong to the people who operate the airfield.
“It can be assumed that the thief or thieves did some proper research beforehand and prepared well for the operation.”
The aircraft is not owned by Morgenstern personally but is operated by his sightseeing flight company.
It is also not equipped for night flying, with investigators believing the thieves may have deliberately chosen a moonlit night.
Gautsch said: “Yesterday and the day before were ideal for a flight in the darkness.”
Morgenstern is one of ski jumping’s most decorated stars.
The Austrian won three Olympic gold medals, 23 World Cup events and twice claimed the overall World Cup title.
He also won the Four Hills Tournament in 2011 and eight World Championship gold medals.
After retiring from ski jumping in 2014, Morgenstern turned to competitive helicopter flying and won a junior world title in 2015.
His company offers sightseeing, VIP and charter flights from Mauterndorf, as well as experience flights where customers can take the controls alongside a qualified pilot.
Morgenstern is listed as one of its pilots.
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