Chopper crash pilot Troy Thomas ‘an inspiring father and friend’

Helicopter pilot Troy Thomas, involved in a crash that left him and a 12-year-old passenger dead, was an ‘inspiring father, brother, son and friend’.

Troy Thomas, right, with actor Ernie Dingo. Source: Facebook

A helicopter pilot involved in a crash that left him and a 12-year-old passenger dead was an ­“inspiring father, brother, son and friend”.

Troy Thomas, 40, was flying the Robinson R44 helicopter when it crashed in Bilingurr, a northern suburb of Broome in Western Australia just after 2.30pm on Saturday.

News Talk 6PR presenter Karl Langdon — a long-time friend of Mr Thomas — paid his respects to the pilot whom he met as a teenager in Mandurah on the southwest coast of WA.

“To Sophie, the kids and the whole Thomas clan, I’m mourning with you today.

Shane Jacobson with crash victim Troy Thomas. Source: Facebook

“I still cannot believe what has happened,” Langdon said.

“I’m glad I shared breakfast with you yesterday, I’m glad I got to stay with you the last couple of days and we got to chat, reflect and enjoy each other’s company.

“I will remember the time we spent together forever. Love you mate. Rest in peace.”

Mr Thomas was the founder of award-winning tourism company Horizontal Falls Seaplane ­Adventures, which he started in 2006 but sold last year to tourism group Journey Beyond.

He was still working for the company as a manager at the time of his death and had recently ­accepted an award on behalf of the company at the Australian Tourism Awards.

Another 12-year-old child, believed to be Mr Thomas’s daughter, Mia, and a 24-year-old woman were critically injured in the crash and were flown to Perth via the Royal Flying Doctor Service on Saturday afternoon in critical conditions.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud bang in the moments leading up to the tragedy.

Mr Thomas was found dead when emergency crews arrived on the scene.

Police said “an issue occurred early in the air” prior to the ­accident.