Share and Follow

Australia’s aviation regulator has lost its bid to be removed from a lawsuit brought by the widow of Outback Wrangler star Chris “Willow” Wilson over her husband’s helicopter death.

Mr Wilson plunged to his death in a remote area of the Northern Territory in February 2022 while dangling from a helicopter owned by his television series co-star Matt Wright as he collected crocodile eggs.

His widow Danielle Wilson filed Federal Court proceedings in 2023 against Wright, his company Helibrook, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) over the crash.

Chris 'Willow' Wilson was collecting crocodile eggs when the chopper crashed.
Chris “Willow” Wilson plunged to his death in a remote area of the Northern Territory in February 2022 while dangling from a helicopter owned by his television series co-star Matt Wright as he collected crocodile eggs. (Supplied)

The mother-of-two is seeking damages for personal injury from the loss of her husband’s income.

But the aviation authority argued on Wednesday it should be struck out of the lawsuit because Ms Wilson couldn’t reasonably succeed with the “frivolous” suit.

Its lawyer said Helibrook was to blame for Mr Wilson’s death because it had failed to comply with the safety regulations set by CASA.

The helicopter operator was permitted to harvest crocodile eggs using a sling but only when the aircraft was less than five metres from the ground.

“Had Helibrook and the pilot complied with CASA’s conditions, the accident wouldn’t have occurred and Mr Wilson wouldn’t have died,” Russell McIlwaine SC, acting for CASA, said.

McIlwaine argued the regulator could not be held responsible for the TV star’s death when the helicopter operator did precisely what it was told not to do.

But Ms Wilson’s lawyer said the regulator’s breach of its duty of care was a “significant cause” of Mr Wilson’s death.

David Lloyd SC accused CASA of failing to undertake adequate risk assessment and conduct proper oversight over Helibrook’s operation, including its use of a sling for crocodile egg retrieval.

Chris Wilson's wife is suing Matt Wright over her husband's death.
Danielle Wilson filed Federal Court proceedings in 2023 against Wright, his company Helibrook, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) over the crash. (Nine)

“Mr Wilson should never have been in the air… and CASA should never have approved activities of that kind,” Lloyd said.

Justice Elizabeth Raper agreed the claims against the aviation regulator were not untenable.

She dismissed CASA’s application and ordered it to pay the widow’s costs.

Outside court, Ms Wilson noted it has been more than three years since she lost her husband “in the most tragic of circumstances”.

“I’m pleased that today in court we heard that we do have an arguable case against CASA,” she said,

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report into the accident found the chopper’s engine stopped mid-flight because of a lack of fuel.

During the emergency landing, pilot Sebastian Robinson released hooks and the sling line carrying Mr Wilson.

Robinson, who survived the incident but suffered life-long injuries, was found to not have refuelled when necessary and had traces of cocaine in his system.

A former pilot and friend of Wilson who was on the scene soon after the crash, was later convicted and fined $15,000 for destroying the mobile phone of the Netflix series star.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Limited COVID-19 Vaccine Options in Australia Raise Concerns Among Experts

People seeking a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine may have noticed…

Turkey’s First Lady Calls on Melania Trump to Advocate for Gaza’s Children

Turkey’s First Lady has urged Melania Trump to speak up for Palestinian…

Tragic Tour Bus Accident: Five Dead, Many Injured on Niagara Falls Route

After spending the morning taking in the breathtaking sights at Niagara Falls,…

The World’s Most Active Volcano Erupts with Lava for the 31st Time Since December

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano resumed erupting this weekend by shooting an arc of…

Smuggled Historical Artifacts Returned to Ukraine by Australian Government

Australia has returned two illegally exported archaeological objects to Ukraine as it…

Li’s Battle for Justice Against an Abusive Family Member

This article contains references to rape, sexual assault and child abuse. Dateline’s…

Massive Turnout Expected in Brisbane’s CBD for Pro-Palestine Demonstration

Around 7000 people are expected to take part in the protest, which…

Unpacking the Success of Netflix’s Viral K-pop Movie, KPop Demon Hunters

In schoolyards and dance clubs across the country, Australians are embracing a…