Crown Prosecutes Celebrity Crocodile Wrangler Matt Wright in NT Supreme Court

Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright is on trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court for attempting to pervert the course of justice. The prosecution alleges Wright was involved in the under-recording of flight hours for the helicopter that crashed in 2022, killing his co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright is currently on trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court for attempting to pervert the course of justice. The prosecution alleges that Wright, who is also the CEO and chief pilot of his company Helibrook, was involved in the under-recording of flight hours for the helicopter that crashed in 2022, killing his co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson. Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice [1].

The trial began on Wednesday, more than three years after the fatal crash. The prosecution, led by Crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC, is not alleging that Wright was responsible for the crash or the deaths of Wilson and pilot Sebastian Robinson, who was left a paraplegic. Instead, the Crown's case focuses on Wright's alleged failure to properly record helicopter flying hours, which could have led to charges against him and his companies [1].

The prosecution claims that Wright was concerned that crash investigations would uncover his improper recording of flight hours, leading him to attempt to provide false information to investigators, manipulate records, and avoid procuring relevant documents. Wright was required to abide by all Australian civil aviation regulations and had a duty to ensure safe air operations. The Robinson R44 helicopter involved in the crash had a maximum flying-hour threshold of 2200 hours, but evidence suggests that Wright's practices extended this limit to 2640 hours, affecting the chopper's airworthiness [1].

The trial continues, with the prosecution presenting covertly recorded conversations of Wright and others at his home and on his phone. The case highlights the importance of compliance with aviation regulations and the potential consequences of non-compliance, which can have severe financial and legal implications for companies and individuals involved in the aviation industry.

References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/06/secret-recordings-of-accused-to-be-played-in-outback-wrangler-helicopter-crash-trial-ntwnfb