Matt Wright responds to safety report into helicopter crash that killed co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson

Netflix star Matt Wright has responded to an official report into a helicopter crash that killed his co-star and best mate.

Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright has responded to the findings of an investigation into the horrific helicopter crash that killed co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson, saying safety management systems had always been in place.

Wilson, then 34, was killed when a Robinson R44 helicopter crashed while he was collecting crocodile eggs in Northern Territory in February last year.

Pilot Sebastian Robinson was seriously injured in the crash.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report determined the crash likely occurred when the vehicle ran out of fuel.

The report also found that a safety management system was not being used by the helicopter operator Helibrook – at the time owned and operated by Wright – while Wilson was suspended from a sling 20m above the ground.

Matt Wright responded to the findings when asked by 9 News, saying that there had ‘always’ been safety systems in place. Picture: Supplied / Channel 9

Chris Wilson was collecting eggs from the helicopter when it crashed near the King River in February 2022, killing him. Picture: Supplied

The ATSB found after the chopper had run out of fuel, the pilot had released the hooks and sling line carrying Wilson while performing the emergency landing procedure.

This resulted in Wilson being dropped from a height that was not survivable.

ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell found that the helicopter operator had a “history of noncompliance with regulatory requirements”.

“As a result, the operator did not adequately address the risks inherent in conducting human sling operations, such as carriage of the egg collector above a survivable fall height,” Mr Mitchell said.

“In addition, and although not assessed on the evidence as having been contributory to this accident, the operator’s history of noncompliance with regulatory requirements, maintenance standards and accurate record keeping increased the risk level for much of their aviation activities.”

Wright touched down in Darwin on Thursday from Sydney, after the report was released.

He said there had been safety management systems in place, saying in footage captured by Nine News at Darwin Airport, “There’s systems in place. There always has been.”

Wilson (left) and Wright were co-stars on the Outback Wrangler TV show and close friends.

Wright first broke his silence on the crash in a tearful video posted to Instagram on Thursday. Photo: Instagram

Wright hit out at the intense public interest in the case, describing the crash as an accident and claiming there was “no failure with the aircraft”.

“It’s just a sad day for everyone,” he said.

“The more you guys keep dragging this out, all it does is hurt everyone. It’s a sad day.”

The 44-year-old broke his silence about the crash after the report was released on Thursday, saying he was “double-devastated” after losing his friend and learning that the report found there had been two metabolites of cocaine in the pilot’s system.

The ATSB has said the helicopter crash that killed Wilson was likely caused by the vehicle running out of fuel. Picture: Supplied / ATSB

A map showing key locations and times of the fatal crash. Picture: Supplied / ATSB

“Losing Willow doesn’t make it any easier, but not only that, to also find out there was cocaine … in the pilot’s blood,” he said.

“My stance on drugs has been pretty strong; not doing them, not having any of my guys do them.

“To find this out has blown me away.”

A toxicology report found that the pilot was likely exposed to cocaine in the days before the flight. He said he had not used any recreational drugs in the past five years.

Two metabolites of cocaine – ecgonine methyl ester and benzoylecgonine – at low levels (less than 0.01 mg/L) were detected in the pilot’s system, the report found.

“These metabolites can be detected in the blood up to 3-4 days after exposure,” the ATSB’s findings state.

“Cocaine itself is generally detectable in blood tests for up to 1-2 days after exposure and was not detected in the pilot’s blood.

Wright tearfully slammed the “rumours, false allegations and false reporting” that had hurt himself, his family and Wilson’s family over the last 18 months.

Wright shot to fame as the star of hit series Outback Wrangler, which showed him interacting with wild crocodiles in the Northern Territory with family, friends and colleagues.

“Nothing’s going to bring our mate back,” Wright said.

“I just hope that this report does bring some closure on how this accident has happened.

“It doesn’t make it any easier.

“The focus of this investigation has been about Willow and myself because we’ve been on TV but not about the cause of the accident.”

Northern Territory Police have said it will continue to work with the coroner, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the ATSB to “enhance community confidence in the aviation industry”.

“Northern Territory Police have shared a comprehensive investigation file with the Director of Public Prosecutions, NT WorkSafe, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority,” a spokesperson said.

“The file includes maintenance and fuel records, expert opinions concerning the fuel system and airworthiness of the stricken aircraft and toxicology analyses of individuals involved in the crash.

“Detectives have also provided comprehensive evidence to the ATSB to assist with their safety-focused investigation.”

Wright and two other people – pilot Michael Burbridge and police officer Neil Mellon – are also facing charges over the crash relating to the “fabrication and destruction of evidence”, according to NT Police. All three deny any wrongdoing.

Engine defects at the time of the accident were likely to have affected the power output and fuel consumption before the helicopter’s crash, the ATSB’s report found.

“Additionally, Helibrook had likely overrun the helicopter’s maintenance, inspection and overhaul periods, which increased the likelihood of the helicopter experiencing a technical failure or malfunction,” Mr Mitchell said.