Netflix star Matt Wright stripped of pilot’s license by CASA after fatal crash: report

Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has suffered another setback after a fatal helicopter crash that killed his Netflix co-star.

Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has been banned from flying helicopters after the country’s peak aviation authority cancelled his commercial pilot’s licence.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority launched enforcement action in June against at least six people following a fatal crash that killed Mr Wright’s co-star, Chris Wilson.

Mr Wright’s Netflix co-star was dangling from a chopper owned by Wright’s company, Helibrook, when he plunged to his death while collecting crocodile eggs in early 2022.

CASA has been investigating circumstances surrounding the crash for the past two years and last week told Mr Wright his licence had been revoked, The Nightly reported.

Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has reportedly been banned from flying helicopters. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Helibrook’s air operator’s certificate was also cancelled, with a spokesperson for Mr Wright telling The Nightly that he had filed an appeal to overturn the decision.

“Mr Wright has lodged an appeal from the decision on his licence,” the spokesperson said.

“(He) had advised the regulator some time ago that Helibrook would not be maintaining an air operator’s certificate moving forward.”

Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson with his wife Danielle.

In a statement, CASA said it had “cancelled authorisations held by Helibrook for serious contraventions of aviation safety regulations”.

The agency said that for privacy reasons it would “not identify decisions related to individuals”.

Under civil aviation regulations, CASA can cancel or suspend a licence if it believes the holder has breached regulations or failed in its duties to operate safely.

It comes after Ms Wilson’s widow launched proceedings in the Federal Court last year against CASA, Helibrook and Mr Wright, seeking damages for injury and income loss.

Mr Wright is separately expected to face a jury trial next year in Darwin after pleading not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to the fatal crash.

The single charge relates to alleged behaviour by Mr Wright in the aftermath of the incident in which the Helibrook owner was allegedly the first one at the scene.

Originally published as Netflix star Matt Wright stripped of pilot’s license by CASA after fatal crash: report