Not a bug, but a misuse of word. Given the context, what the traveler is saying is that they want to provide help to the crew. So the word should be "unhelpful" and not "helpless".
"Helpless" means receiving no help. As in "no one is helping this helpless person."
"Unhelpful" means providing no help. As in "this unhelpful person is not helping anyone." And this is what the traveler meant.
