Thomas Morgenstern faces business impact after helicopter theft

Former Olympic ski jumper and helicopter pilot Thomas Morgenstern is facing significant business challenges following the theft of his Robinson R44 helicopter. The aircraft was stolen from a hangar at Mauterndorf Airfield in the Lungau region of Austria during the early hours of September 28, 2026.

Police report that the perpetrators used a handling vehicle to move the helicopter out of the hangar before flying it away. The thieves reportedly disabled the aircraft’s transponder, making it difficult to track. While the Austrian military detected the helicopter in the air multiple times, it successfully crossed international borders. The aircraft was later intercepted in Croatian airspace, though Morgenstern expressed doubt regarding its safe return.

The theft represents a major financial blow to Morgenstern’s commercial flight company, as a new Robinson R44 is valued at approximately 600,000 euros. Morgenstern stated that his team is currently working on planning and assessments to determine when flight operations can resume, though no specific dates have been set.