Police call for information about fatal chopper crash that killed crocodile wrangler
Police are calling for photos of a chopper involved in the fatal crash that killed the Outback Wrangler star.
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Police are calling on tourists and adventurers to send through their photos of a chopper involved in the death of Outback Wrangler cast member Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.
Police are calling for information seven months after the fatal chopper crash in West Arnhem.
The Outback Wrangler star and father-of-two was killed in a helicopter crash on an ill-fated crocodile egg collecting mission on February 28.
The 34-year-old’s body was found 40m from the wreckage of a Robinson R44 near the King River.
His 28-year-old pilot, Sebastian Robinson, was also critically injured.
Seven months later, Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Corey Borton said police wanted to speak to anyone who may have travelled in the same helicopter: a Robinson R44 Raven II with the call sign VH-IDW.
Sergeant Borton said the Raven II was believed to have been used for scenic and adventure tours in the Northern Territory between 2020 and 2022.
“We’re particularly interested in anyone who may have taken photos or videos of, or in this aircraft, to come forward and provide these images to police,” he said.
Remote Helicopters Australia director and chief pilot Mick Burbidge, 44, and former Acting Senior Sergeant Neil Ryan Mellon, 47, were charged in relation to an alleged cover-up connected to the chopper crash.
Prosecutors alleged Burbidge attempted to pervert the course of justice, destroyed evidence, made a false declaration and fabricated evidence.
Mellon was charged with 35 offences, including perverting the course of justice, destroying evidence, as well as wildlife, fireworks and firearms offences.
During Burbidge’s appearance in the Darwin Local Court last Wednesday, prosecutors told the court a ‘matrix’ of people were named as persons of interest in the alleged conspiracy.
The court has heard the ‘crocodile king’ and Australia’s largest saltwater croc farmer, Mr Burns, was one of the first to appear at the scene of the crash.
The court heard that under his current bail conditions, Burbidge was barred from contacting Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright, pilots Jock Purcell and Morgan Vilder, Tim Johnston, and Mellon.
However, he failed in an attempt to block Burbidge from contacting the ‘crocodile king’ and Australia’s largest saltwater croc farmer Mr Burns, pilot Ty Richardson, Tim Luck, and David Hannon.
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Originally published as Police call for information about fatal chopper crash that killed crocodile wrangler
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