Secret recordings recently released by the Northern Territory Supreme Court have shed new light on the conduct of Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright in the aftermath of a fatal helicopter crash that killed his co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson. Wright was found guilty in August 2023 of two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice related to the investigation of the crash, which occurred on February 28, 2022.
Wilson, 34, died instantly when the helicopter’s engine failed, reportedly due to fuel exhaustion, while collecting crocodile eggs suspended beneath the aircraft. The pilot, Sebastian Robinson, 28, survived but was left in critical condition. Wright’s helicopter business, Helibrook, was found to have engaged in practices that included falsifying flight records and disconnecting the Hobbs Metre—a device that tracks flight hours—potentially involving underreported flight hours to the tune of $460,000.
Wright received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended after five months, and was released in May 2023. The court made public 14 audio recordings played during his trial, revealing private conversations between Wright and his wife Kaia, friends, staff members, and colleagues amid the ongoing investigation.
One recording, dated August 9, 2022, captured a warning from Michael Burbidge, a pilot with Remote Helicopter Australia, to Wright about discrepancies in the crashed chopper’s logbooks. Burbidge pointed out entries noting that the Hobbs Metre had been disconnected on multiple occasions and urged Wright to identify who had made these notes to determine who could be trusted. Burbidge was later fined $15,000 after admitting to disposing of Wilson’s phone from a helicopter, citing a desire to protect Wilson’s widow from its contents.
In recordings from November 2022, Wright expressed concerns to his wife about the potential for GoPro footage—used for his Channel 9 television series—to expose inconsistencies in the flight records. He acknowledged that while he did not want to lie outright, he also did not want to disclose everything. Wright told a television crew member to remove the GoPro recordings, fearing the footage would be used against him and jeopardize future seasons of the show.
The released audio portrays a complex effort by Wright and associates to manage the fallout from the crash and investigations, with discussions focusing on trust issues among pilots, potential breaches in flight record accuracy, and the risks posed by video evidence. Authorities have not disclosed further investigative steps but the case highlights challenges in aviation oversight and accountability in remote regions.
Wright has not publicly commented following the release of the recordings. The court’s decision and subsequent disclosures mark a significant development in understanding the events surrounding the helicopter crash and the subsequent investigation.