Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright has disputed the findings of an investigation into the horrific helicopter crash that killed co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson, claiming safety management systems had always been in place.
Mr Wilson, then 34, was killed when a Robinson R44 helicopter crashed while he was collecting crocodile eggs in Northern Territory in February last year.
Pilot Sebastian Robinson was seriously injured in the crash.
A report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) determined the crash likely occurred when the vehicle ran out of fuel.
The report also found that a safety management system was not being used by the helicopter operator while Wilson was suspended from a slingling 20 metres above the ground.
The ATSB found after the chopper had run out of fuel, the pilot had released the hooks and sling line carrying Mr Wilson while performing the emergency landing procedure.
This resulted in Wilson was dropped from a height that was not survivable.
ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell outlined that the helicopter operator had a “history of noncompliance with regulatory requirements”.
“As a result, the operator did not adequately address the risks inherent in conducting human sling operations, such as carriage of the egg collector above a survivable fall height,” Mr Mitchell said.
“In addition, and although not assessed on the evidence as having been contributory to this accident, the operator’s history of noncompliance with regulatory requirements, maintenance standards and accurate record keeping, increased the risk level for much of their aviation activities.”
Mr Wright appeared to dispute the findings when he touched down in Darwin on Thursday from Sydney, where the report was released.
In footage captured by 9 News at Darwin Airport, Mr Wright said: “No, there’s systems in place.”
“There always has been.”
Mr Wright hit out at the intense public interest in the case, describing the crash as an accident and claiming there was “no failure with the aircraft”.
“It’s just a sad day for everyone ,” he said.
“The more you guys keep dragging this out, all it does is hurt everyone. It’s a sad day.”
The 44-year-old broke his silence about the crash after the report was released on Thursday, saying he was “double-devastated” after losing his friend and finding out there had been trace amounts of cocaine in the pilot’s system.
“Losing Willow doesn’t make it any easier, but not only that, to also find out there was cocaine … in the pilot’s blood,” he said.
“My stance on drugs has been pretty strong; not doing them, not having any of my guys do them.
“To find this out has blown me away.”
He tearfully slammed the “rumours, false allegations and false reporting” that had hurt himself, his family and Mr Wilson’s family over the last 18 months.
“Nothing’s going to bring our mate back,” Mr Wright said.
“I just hope that this report does bring some closure on how this accident has happened.
“It doesn’t make it any easier.
“The focus of this investigation has been about Willow and myself because we’ve been on TV, but not about the cause of the accident.”