OLYMPIC ski-jumping icon Thomas Morgenstern had his HELICOPTER stolen in an overnight raid.
The Austrian, 39, is one of the most decorated stars in ski-jumping history.
He won three gold medals, 23 World Cup titles and eight world championships during his career.
And Morgenstern, who retired from ski-jumping in 2014, was left stunned after his Robinson R44 went missing from a hangar at an Austrian airfield.
The helicopter is said to have vanished between 2am and 4am on Monday, according to Need To Know.
It’s claimed thieves broke into a hangar at Mauterndorf airfield, near Salzburg, and disabled security cameras.
They then got in the chopper and escaped, flying out of to refuel in Croatia.
The crooks could have later travelled to Albania or North Macedonia, the report says.
Salzburg State Criminal Police believe a pilot might have been involved in the theft, as well as someone with “knowledge of helicopter mechanics”.
They are understood to have made off with 365 litres of kerosene, which was more than double the helicopter’s 170-litre capacity.
Morgenstern told Austrian media he was baffled how the crime could have happened in the middle of the night.
And he said he wasn’t optimistic about getting his helicopter returned to him.
He told the press: “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.”
Local police chief Felix Gautsch confirmed there had been a break-in “through the back door of the hangar”.
He added: “The helicopter was wheeled out of the hangar on this manoeuvring trolley, which was then put back neatly in its place.”
“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.”
Since retiring, Morgenstern became a competitive helicopter flyer and started a company that offers VIP flying experiences and sightseeing tours.
