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Via the Oz:

CASA files fresh legal action against Outback Wrangler Matt Wright over potential compo



A new lawsuit has been filed against Outback Wrangler Matt Wright over a helicopter crash in the Northern Territory that claimed the life of co-star Chris Wilson who was slung beneath the chopper for the purpose of collecting crocodile eggs at the time.

Mr Wright is currently on trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the crash at King River on February 28, 2022.

He is also named in a civil suit brought by Mr Wilson’s widow Danielle who is seeking damages from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Mr Wright as well as his insolvent company Helibrook for her husband’s death.

Now CASA has launched a cross-claim against Mr Wright, in an attempt to ensure he foots the bill for any damages awarded to Ms Wilson by the Federal Court.

The cross-claim was filed by CASA after Federal Court judge Elizabeth Raper rejected the regulator’s application to be dropped from the case.

Ms Wilson’s case against CASA argues the regulator should not have allowed “human slinging without proper surveillance or oversight of Helibrook”.



The matter was filed in the Federal Court in 2023 and has been delayed by unsuccessful attempts at mediation.

CASA’s defence filed at the same time as the cross-claim, argued it was not responsible for Mr Wilson’s death because the conditions imposed by the regulator on the practice of human slinging were not adhered to.

These included Mr Wilson being carried at a height of 10m, instead of 5m as required by CASA.

CASA claimed that it was the conduct of Mr Wright as the owner of Helibrook, pilot Seb Robinson and Mr Wilson himself that caused or materially contributed to Mr Wilson’s death.

“If Mr Wright had taken any of the reasonable precautions the accident would not have occurred,” said CASA.

The cross-claim argued that CASA should be entitled to recover any damages the regulator may be ordered to pay the applicant Ms Wilson, from Mr Wright.

“To the extent CASA is found to be liable to Ms Wilson (which is denied) CASA has suffered loss and damage for which Mr Wright is liable, and his contribution to any damages should be 100 per cent thereof,” said the cross-claim.

It’s the second cross-claim filed in the case, with Mr Wright also lodging a claim against his insurers HDI Global Speciality and Unity Insurance Brokers.

In his cross-claim Mr Wright said HDI was in breach of its own policy by refusing to compensate him and Helibrook for the lawsuit brought against them, resulting in loss and damage.

He argued the policy was in place at the time of the accident, yet claims made by Helibrook and himself in 2022 and 2024 respectively, had been refused.

A spokesman for HDI said the company “had at all times complied fully and in good faith with its obligations to Helibrook in accordance with the terms and conditions of the insurance policy”.

Liquidators were appointed to Helibrook on June 25, with the intention of winding the company up.

The civil case brought by Ms Wilson is due to return to the Federal Court on Thursday August 22.

Mr Wright’s criminal trial in Darwin will resume on Monday. He is not charged over the crash itself, and has pleaded not guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice through alleged acts intended to cover up an under-reporting of helicopter flying hours.

MTF...P2