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'Love you mate': Friends pay tribute to pilot, 40, killed in helicopter crash

The pilot who died in a helicopter crash on Saturday in Broome has been identified as 40-year-old Troy Thomas.

Mr Thomas was the founder of an award-winning tourism company, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures. He is believed to have sold the company last year but remained involved in its operations.

The well-known local died alongside a girl, 12, when the Robinson R44 helicopter crashed in the Broome suburb of Bilingurr, in the state's Kimberley region, at 2.30pm.

A woman in her 20s remains in a critical condition in hospital and another girl, also 12, is in a serious but stable condition.

Mr Thomas is pictured left , the wreckage of the helicopter is seen right.
Mr Thomas was the founder of an award-winning tourism company, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures. Source: Facebook/7News

Tributes to ‘inspiring friend’

Former West Coast Eagles AFL player and media commentator Karl Langdon paid tribute to his longtime friend on social media.

"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," he wrote.

"Love you mate, Rest In Peace."

Several other people took to social media to share their memories of Mr Thomas.

“Still cannot comprehend it all... our meeting my have been fleeting however his generosity and incredible sense of adventure gave us all one of the greatest days we've ever had,” one person wrote.

“Awful news. Much love to his surviving family,” another person added.

The family of the 12-year-old girl who also died in the crash don’t want her to be identified at this time, WA Police said.

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