Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has been banned from flying helicopters after The Civil Aviation Safety Authority cancelled his commercial pilot’s licence and the air operator’s certificate of his company.
Mr Wright has filed an appeal against the decision, as he fights to get his licence back.
CASA launched enforcement action against at least six pilots following the NT chopper crash that killed Mr Wright’s Netflix co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson in June.
Mr Wilson plunged to his death February 2022 while dangling from a helicopter owned by his television series co-star Matt Wright to collect crocodile eggs.
Pilot Sebastian Robinson was seriously injured and is now a parapalegic.
The chopper that crashed was owned and operated by Mr Wright and his company Helibrook.
For more than two years, CASA has been investigating several matters stemming from the fatal crash.
Last week the agency told Mr Wright that his commercial pilot’s licence and Helibrook’s air operator’s certificate have been cancelled, The Nightly revealed.
Outback Wrangler Matt Wright has been banned from flying helicopters after The Civil Aviation Safety Authority cancelled his commercial pilot’s licence
Under the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations, CASA has the authority to cancel or suspend a licence if the holder has breached the Act or its regulations, or if they have failed in their duties in a manner that compromises the safe navigation or operation of an aircraft.
A spokesperson for Wright told The Nightly: ‘Mr Wright has lodged an appeal from the decision on his licence and had advised the regulator some time ago that Helibrook would not be maintaining an air operator’s certificate moving forward.’
If his appeal fails, he will have to reapply for his licence, which can take up to three years.
It comes Wright and his wife are set to face the Darwin Local Court today over a boat crash that fractured a woman’s skull.
The boat crashed near Sweets Lagoon in the Bynoe region of the Northern Territory, about 118km south-west of Darwin, on May 10, 2023.
Top End Safari Camp adventure company along with Wright and his influencer wife as directors could be fined more than $5million in total over the incident, after being charged by NT WorkSafe.
On the day of the crash 17 months ago, there were 26 tourists on two airboats and half of those passengers were children.
One of the airboats, called Gale Force, struck a semi-submerged tree during the outing with such force that the 13 passengers were all thrown from their seats.
Mr Wright has filed an appeal against the decision, as he fights to get his licence back
Matt and Kaia Wright were not on board the vessel, which was being piloted by an employee.
NT WorkSafe has charged Top End Safari Camp Pty Ltd with breaches of the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011.
The airboat crash is not related to the helicopter crash in February 2022 in which Mr Wilson died and pilot Sebastian Robinson was also seriously injured.
In 2023, Mr Wilson’s widow, Danielle, commenced proceedings in the Federal Court seeking damages for personal injury as well as for the loss of her husband’s income.
Wright will face a trial on charges related to the helicopter accident investigation, from July 7 next year, which is expected to last eight weeks.
The Netflix celebrity pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice following the crash that killed Wilson.
The single charge relates to alleged behaviour in the aftermath of the crash where Mr Wright was allegedly one of the first on the scene.
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