Stolen Robinson R44 helicopter detected in Croatia

Authorities are searching for a stolen Robinson R44 helicopter, registration OE-XHK, which was taken from a hangar at Mauterndorf Airport in Austria on the night of September 28. According to investigators, unidentified individuals broke into the hangar through a rear door, placed the aircraft on a trolley to move it outside, and refueled it before taking off around 1:50 AM.

Austrian police and the military confirmed that the helicopter was detected in Croatia after flying through Styria and toward Bleiburg in Carinthia. Although the thieves turned off the transponder, the Austrian military was able to track the aircraft multiple times. While some media reports suggest the helicopter may be on the island of Pag, Austrian investigators have not officially confirmed this location.

The owner, Manuel Aster, has issued an international appeal for assistance, asking pilots, airports, and aviation services to provide any information that could lead to the aircraft's recovery. The Salzburg criminal police, Austro Control, and the Austrian military are currently analyzing flight data to reconstruct the helicopter's exact trajectory.