Outback Wrangler Matt Wright lawyers’ single out chopper pilot

Lawyers for Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright have written to NT WorkSafe wanting to know why there are no consequences for pilot Sebastian Robinson under the Work Health and Safety Act.

Exclusive: Lawyers for Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright have written to NT WorkSafe wanting to know why there are no consequences for pilot Sebastian Robinson under the Work Health and Safety Act.

The letter follows NT WorkSafe last week announcing charges against Wright over the helicopter crash at King River on February 28, 2022 that killed his friend Chris “Willow” Wilson and left pilot Sebastian Robinson a paraplegic.

Mr Wright was not present on the day of the crash but was a director of Helibrook, the company involved in the egg-collecting trip.

The letter from Wright’s lawyer, sighted by the Sunday Telegraph, states that “the pilot of the helicopter that crashed was a contractor to Wright’s company, Helibrook. As a contractor he also had a number of legal duties under WHS laws”.

The letter refers to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which concluded in its final report into the crash that the pilot did not identify the reducing fuel state before the helicopter’s engine stopped in flight due to fuel exhaustion.

Stills from a video statement released by Matt Wright following the outcome of the ATSB report into the helicopter crash.

Matt Wright as the star of The Outback Wrangler in 2011.

The ATSB also found the pilot’s exposure to cocaine in the previous few days increased the likelihood of fatigue, depression and inattention but there was insufficient evidence.

No charges were laid by the WHS against Robinson.

The letter quoted the ATSB report stating “the engine … stopped due to fuel exhaustion” and that “during the autorotation after the engine stopped, Mr Robinson released the egg collector, Christopher Wilson, above a likely survivable height, resulting in Mr Wilson’s fatal injuries”.

Wright’s lawyer claimed his client had been unfairly targeted by WHS authorities given the ATSB findings.

Pilot Sebastian Robinson with Chris “Willow” Wilson.

“Authorities continue to target Wright despite him not being present when the crash occurred.”

Wright also exclusively told the Sunday Telegraph earlier this week that lawyers for Chris Wilson’s widow Dani also sought to add him personally to her lawsuit against Helibrook.

On Thursday a hearing before the Federal Court was told an interlocutory application had been filed “joining” Mr Wright to the case, and seeking a “freezing order” on the reality TV star and his wife Kaia.

Barrister David Lloyd SC for Ms Wilson, said they were hoping to get an undertaking about “not transferring or disposing of assets” while the case was being heard.

However, the Sunday Telegraph understands that of the nine transactions Ms Wilson’s lawyers are concerned about, seven occurred before the crash that killed Mr Wilson.

One of the remaining two transactions that occurred after was the result of a transaction that had been under negotiations well before the crash – and both were before the lawsuit from Ms Wilson even existed.

“It’s therefore hard to understand how Matt Wright could be moving assets to hide from a lawsuit that didn’t even exist at the time, about a crash that hadn’t happened,” his lawyers said.

Wright told the Sunday Telegraph he misses Wilson “every single day” and was “bitterly disappointed this has turned into a legal dispute over money”.

“No amount of money will bring Willow back, and it’s hurtful to imply that normal business transactions that occurred before the accident are in some way related to this lawsuit,” he said.

“Unfortunately, given legal proceedings have been initiated I now have to leave these matters to the insurers and lawyers.”

Wright has been committed to stand trial on a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice in the Northern Territory’s Supreme Court next year. He has ‘strenuously’ denied any wrongdoing.

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