Another Aussie ‘Outback’ celebrity or conspirator behind cold case? Uncovering judgements of Matt Wright, the Nat Geo nemesis, found guilty in Willow Wilson helicopter crash

Think of Nat Geo, wildlife documentaries, and everything ‘Aussie’ in nature showcasing wild adventures with a touch of ‘world-famous’ Aussie fearlessness, you might think of the late Steve Irwin and Keith Adams, who were celebrities whose shows were once watched all over the world.

One such celebrity, star of Netflix show, Wild Croc Territory and National Geographic’s Outback Wrangler’s Matt Wright, an actor, has been found guilty in two counts (perversing the course of justice) involving death of fellow Outback Wrangler co-star Willow Wilson, who died in a helicopter crash on February 22, 2022, on one of the show’s shooting scenes.

Also read: Queensland data security breach exposes data of thousands as man hacks into multiple financial service off

The immediate repercussions were delayed, as the case, immediately, as was the norm, focused on the recklessness of the chopper pilot, Sebastian Robinson.

The accident reports stated by The Air Transport Safety Bureau, concluded the crash was due to lack of fuel, resulting in engine shutdown, and eventual crash.

The pilot, who was left a paraplegic after the accident, however, alleged that Wright had asked him (Sebastian Robinson) to ‘torch’ maintenance releases of the plane, which would decipher that flying-hour meters were regularly disconnected to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperworks to be falsified.

Although the verdict stands as of Friday, August 29, of Matt Wright found guilty of two charges, the third charge of ‘torching’ the releases has not been pleaded guilty.

Four-week long trial for three year old-case

The month-long case, which took turns at justice, first denied allegations of Wright’s involvement, as, Robinson had first stated in the initial hearing in the supreme court in Darwin on August 15, 2025, in which he accused Outback Wrangler actor Wright of asking Robinson to falsify flying hours and delete phone messages.

What the episode detailed

Arnhem Land, in the Northern territory, was the destination for the helicopter crash, which was supposedly planned to land among crocodile nests according to the episode’s shooting plans.

Also read: Thai police bust multi-million dollar investment scam, arrest 13 including 5 Australians from a luxury man

But, what was aimed at reality TV, ended up as a fatal crash.

Sebastian, who had accused Wright of three counts of perversing the course of justice against Wright, had failed to prove Wright of any involvement with the verdict as not guilty in the first trial, held on August 15, 2025.

The second hearing on August 22, showcased, counsel for Wright, David Edwardson KC, making a counter-complaint against Robinson for concocting a false case, stating the allegations made against Wright were, “absolute falsehoods.”

The main case against Wright

Prosecutors have alleged that Wright had a role in manipulating the flying hours of the chopper, by extending scheduled time, and they alleged that Wright was worried that crash investigators would find out flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified.

Wilson, who slipped from a sling attached to the chopper, while collecting crocodile eggs in a remote swamp land, fell to his death on the ground.

Also read: Bali shooting suspect extradited after gangland killing of two Australians in luxury villa

Giving evidence from a video link on August 15, Robinson (the pilot) alleged that Wright had asked him at his hospital bedside days after the crash in Brisbane 11 to transfer flying hours from the crashed chopper IDW on to Robinson’s ZXZ machine, something he declined to do.

Robinson, who had previously admitted to cocaine usage, denied being intoxicated at the time of flight; the case ended with Wright not found guilty, regarding flight-time manipulation, Willow’s death, or Robinson’s accident, as of August 15.

Hollywood-style phone tap unveils first hint of Wright’s involvement

On the second hearing on August 22, phone taps with voice recordings of Wright and his associate stating, “Old f****** Sebby’s dropped everyone,”, to which the associate responds by asking, “He’s thrown everyone under the bus?”, to which Wright says, “The f******* lot, yep.”

Also read: Queensland hacker Shane Duffy loses $4.5M in cybercrime asset seizure, including Bitcoins

Police had bugged Wright’s home for up to three months, uncovering some of the recordings, verified by the August 15 hearing, where NT police Det Sgt Timothy Gardiner, said to the court of the tapping occurring between months of October and November 2022, according to an AAP report in a Guardian article, dated August 22, 2025.

Sentencing for Wright is dated on September 6. He has been denied bail, but, not facing stay in custody, after lack of complete evidence. Prosecutors advise custody detainment considering the gravity of the case.