Outback Star Gets 10 Months for Covering Up Fatal Crash

Reality television personality Matt Wright has been sentenced to 10 months imprisonment, with five months suspended, for attempting to pervert the course of justice following a fatal helicopter crash. The incident occurred in February 2022 during a crocodile-egg collecting trip, resulting in the death of his co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson and serious injury to pilot Sebastian Robinson.

Wright was accused of several offenses, including lying to crash investigators about the helicopter's fuel quantity and requesting a colleague to destroy maintenance records. A jury found him guilty on two counts, though they could not reach an agreement on a third charge. The prosecution alleged Wright was concerned that investigators would discover the helicopter's flying hours were falsified.

In addition to the suspended jail term, Wright was fined $5000 for lying to police. He has indicated an appeal against his convictions. The court's decision reflects the seriousness of actions taken to obstruct justice, separate from the initial cause of the tragic crash itself.