Wrangler’s phone key to chopper probe

The missing mobile phone of Outback Wrangler cast member Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson is at the centre of a major crash investigation.

Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.

The missing mobile phone of Outback Wrangler cast member Chris “Willow” Wilson is at the centre of a major crash investigation that has already resulted in two men – including a senior police officer – being charged with serious crimes.

Since August, NT police have charged bush helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge and former NT police veteran Neil Mellon with a long list of offences related to the February chopper crash in west Arnhem Land that killed Wilson.

In late August, Mr Mellon was charged with 31 criminal offences including conspiracy to pervert the course of justice – which carries a 15-year jail sentence – and destruction of evidence in relation to the major crash investigation.

The 47-year-old, who has since resigned from the NT Police Force, was also charged with unlawfully accessing data and disclosing confidential information as well as multiple unrelated weapons, firearms and wildlife ­offences.

Weeks later detectives charged Mr Burbidge with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, attempt to pervert the course of justice, destruction of evidence and providing a false statement in a statutory declaration.

The Australian understands the 44-year-old’s charges relate to the whereabouts of Wilson’s mobile phone, which was allegedly removed from the crash site.

Sources say Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators had sought Wilson’s phone when they arrived at the accident location because it contained crucial flight data, but were told its whereabouts was unknown.

The charges against Mr Mellon and Mr Burbidge are believed to relate to circumstances surrounding the crash investigation rather than the crash itself.

Wilson, a cast member of Nat­ional Geographic’s reality TV show Outback Wrangler, was killed when the Robinson R44 helicopter from which he was dangling crashed on the King River in a remote part of west Arnhem Land. He had been strapped into a harness attached to a 30m-long line to collect crocodile eggs when the chopper collided with terrain soon after takeoff, about 30km south of South Goulburn Island.

The 34-year-old, who also features in new Nine Network series Matt Wright’s Wild Territory, left behind wife Danielle and their two young sons.

Mr Burbidge, a friend of Wilson, is the director and chief pilot of Remote Helicopters Australia but he was not the pilot at the time of the crash. He has also appeared on Outback Wrangler, which is broadcast on Nine and National Geographic and is watched in more than 100 countries.

The Australian has previously revealed Mr Burbidge, Mr Mellon, Mr Wright and another friend, Darwin publican Mick Burns, flew to the crash scene immediately after the downed chopper was discovered midmorning on February 28. The helicopter was operated by Mr Wright’s company, Helibrook.

Mr Burns runs the crocodile-egg harvesting business and was also co-director of Wilson’s company, Northern Australia Civil.

There is no suggestion Mr Wright or Mr Burns are involved in any wrongdoing.

The Australian has previously revealed Mr Mellon flew to the site while off-duty and retrieved his friend’s body, took photos and established the incident scene while waiting for authorities.

Sources have since told The Australian police management tasked Mr Mellon, while off-duty, with managing the accident scene alone – where he was confronted with the traumatic discovery of his dead mate and critically injured pilot Sebastian Robinson – without providing any post-incident welfare support.

The former decorated cop, who was until recently the Northern Watch Commander, has indicated in court that he will enter early guilty pleas.

His matter was mentioned in court on Wednesday but adjourned until October 19. The former Territory Response Group boss was excused from appearing.

Mr Burbidge will face court for the first time on October 19.

The ATSB’s final report into the crash is expected to be released by the end of the year. The NT police investigation is ongoing.