Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright has fought back tears as he revealed he’s ‘doubly devastated’ that the pilot in the helicopter crash that killed his fellow co-star had cocaine in his system, and that the chopper was running out fuel.
The n Transport Safety Bureau finally released its 113-page report on Wednesday, almost 21 months after Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson plunged to his death in a remote area of the Northern Territory.
The 34-year-old died while on a crocodile egg hunting mission in West Arnhem Land in February 2022 when a Robinson R44 helicopter he was attached to by a 30-metre line using a harness crashed.
The aviation watchdog ruled that the pilot did not refuel the aircraft owned and operated by Wright‘s company Helibrook, causing the engine to stop mid-air.
The investigation also found low levels of cocaine in pilot Seb Robinson’s blood samples but added there was insufficient evidence to determine if he was affected at the time.
Wright addressed the report’s findings in a two minute video – including how the pilot had apparently been ‘exposed to cocaine’ in the days prior.
Wright insists Robinson wouldn’t been allowed to fly the chopper that day had he known.
‘We were all devastated at the time when Willow was killed and now we’re doubly devastated to find out that the helicopter ran out of fuel while slinging Willow, which doesn’t make it any easier,’ Wright began.
The n Transport Safety Bureau released its report on Wednesday, almost 21 months after Chris Wilson (pictured) plunged to his death in a remote area of the Northern Territory
‘But not only that, to find out there was cocaine in the pilot’s blood: my stance on drugs has been pretty strong: not doing them, not having any of my guys doing them so to find this out has blown me away.’
‘If I had known, he wouldn’t have been flying Willow nor would he have been flying any of our machines.’
An emotional Wright paused several times to maintain his composure as he addressed the hurtful ‘rumours’ and ‘false allegations’ which had taken a toll on not only on his family but also those involved.
‘Nothing is going to bring Willow back,’ he said.
‘In the last 12-18 months, you’ve been seeing a lot of rumours and reporting- so a lot of false allegations which have been hurtful to my family and Willow’s family and everyone else involved in this.’
‘Nothing’s going to bring a mate back. I just hope this report does bring some closure on how this accident’s happened.’
‘It doesn’t make it any easier.’
He also spoke about focus of the investigation being on himself and Willow because they were on TV instead of the actual cause of the accident.
‘Anyway that’s my take on it. Cheers,’ Wright ended the video.
Matt Wright fought back tears on Wednesday as he addressed the report findings into the chopper crash that killed one of his closest mates
The ATSB investigation found the chopper’s engine stopped mid-flight and during the emergency landing, pilot Sebastian Robinson released the hooks and sling line during the emergency landing.
The height of the release, which was above nine metres, was ‘likely not survivable’ for Mr Wilson, ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell found.
‘Based on analysis of fuel samples and other evidence, the ATSB investigation found that the helicopter was likely not refuelled at a fuel depot about three-quarters of the way between Darwin and the crocodile egg hunting area,’ Mr Mitchell said.
‘The pilot did not identify the reducing fuel state before the helicopter’s engine stopped due to fuel exhaustion.’
The bureau also found the pilot’s ‘exposure to cocaine’ in the previous days increased the likelihood of fatigue and inattention, but there was insufficient evidence to determine if he was affected at the time.
Matt Wright (pictured with his wife Kaia) is expected to release a statement in response to the bureau’s findings handed down on Wednesday
February 28 next year will mark two years since the tragic death of Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson
The bureau found that Wright’s company Helibrook made a number of errors.
The report said the operator was not using a proper safety management system to ‘systematically identify and manage operational hazards’.
The investigation also found the aviation regulator had banned the use of sling uses at any height, but had granted Helibrook an exemption to conduct crocodile collecting.
By 2017, all safety conditions limiting height, speed and exposure were removed by the regulator, meaning Mr Wilson could be attached to the helicopter up to 100 feet.
Months after the accident, the ATSB referred the case to the n Federal Police, recommending police probe the issue in regards to evidence available in the investigation.
Wright, 44 and his pilot Michael Burbidge were allegedly first on scene, accompanied by former senior police officer Neil Mellon.
Matt Wright (right) previously revealed the death of close mate Chris Wilson (centre) was ‘still pretty fresh’. The pair were cast members on Outback Wrangler with Jono Brown (left)
Wright, Mellon and Burbidge were all hit with a slew of charges, accused of perverting the course of justice and destroying evidence.
All three men continue to face court on the charges, with Wright saying he ‘strenuously denies any allegations of wrongdoing’ in regards to the crash or the investigation.
Outback Wrangler was an adventure TV series filmed in remote Top End locations that aired in more than 90 countries.
The show chronicled the capture and transport of dangerous animals that posed a threat to people, including crocodiles and wild buffalo.