Outback Wrangler Star Matt Wright Sentenced to Jail After Fatal Helicopter Crash
Matt Wright, 47, known for his roles in Outback Wrangler and Wild Croc Territory, was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment by the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Darwin for attempting to pervert the course of justice related to a fatal helicopter crash in Arnhem Land in February 2022.
The crash resulted in the death of co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson and left the pilot, Sebastian Robinson, paraplegic during a crocodile-egg collecting trip. Wilson was hanging on a line beneath the helicopter to place eggs on nests at the time of the accident.
Wright was found guilty of lying to crash investigators about fuel levels and attempting to have Robinson falsify flying hours. Additionally, he was accused of asking a friend to torch the helicopter’s maintenance release, though the jury was unable to reach a verdict on this charge. Alongside his sentence, Wright received a $5,000 fine for providing false information to the police.
Prosecutors claimed Wright was concerned that investigators would discover the helicopter’s flying-hour meters had been regularly disconnected to extend hours beyond official limits, with accompanying paperwork falsified accordingly. However, there were no allegations that Wright caused the crash, the resulting death, or injuries.
On 29 August, a jury convicted Wright on two of the charges but did not reach a verdict on the third. Acting Justice Alan Blow delivered the sentence, suspending it after Wright serves five months.
