A high-profile criminal trial in the Northern Territory has spilled into the Federal Court, where television personality and tourism operator Matt Wright is suing his insurers over a denied indemnity claim related to a fatal 2022 helicopter crash that killed his co-star and close friend, Chris “Willow” Wilson.
Wright, best known for his roles in Outback Wrangler and Wild Croc Territory, alleges that his underwriter, HDI Global Specialty SE, and his broker, Unity Insurance Brokers, breached their respective obligations by denying coverage under a policy Wright claims was valid and in force at the time of the crash.
Wilson was killed when a Robinson R44 helicopter operated by Wright’s company, Helibrook, ran out of fuel while conducting crocodile egg harvesting operations in a remote section of Arnhem Land. Suspended beneath the aircraft on a 100-foot sling, Wilson fell to his death when the pilot released the line during a failed emergency landing. The pilot, Sebastian Robinson, was left paraplegic.
Although not on board the helicopter at the time of the crash, Wright has been charged with multiple offences, including attempting to pervert the course of justice, fabricating evidence, and destruction of evidence. He has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors allege Wright arrived on the crash scene shortly after the incident and tampered with the helicopter’s dashboard, including manipulating the fuel level indicators. He is also accused of providing false information to authorities and pressuring Robinson, while he was recovering in hospital, to retroactively alter flight records to conceal under-recorded flight hours.
In the Northern Territory Supreme Court last week, the jury was shown a transcript from a covert recording allegedly made in Wright’s home. In it, prosecutors claim Wright discussed concealing documents from regulators:
“Just torch it. I don't know where it is but I'm thinking it's either there – I've got to send it to CASA or the ATSB,” Wright is quoted as saying, referring to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
A final report by the ATSB found the crash was caused by fuel exhaustion, noting that the helicopter had not refuelled at a nearby station. The agency also found that Helibrook had a history of maintenance non-compliance, regulatory lapses, and poor record-keeping. The pilot was found to have traces of cocaine derivatives in his blood, although this was not deemed a contributing factor.
The regulator CASA had authorised the use of a human sling to collect crocodile eggs but did not ensure sufficient safety assurances were in place to mitigate the associated risks.
Wilson’s widow, Danielle Wilson, has launched civil proceedings against Wright, Helibrook, and CASA, alleging they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent her husband’s death. The Federal Court matter brought by Wright is a direct response to that lawsuit.
Wright’s cross-claim contends that HDI Global Specialty SE, the international industrial insurer underwriting the Helibrook policy, wrongly denied indemnity for the claims brought by Wilson’s widow. He argues that both HDI and Unity were fully aware the policy covered Helibrook’s sling operations, which CASA had approved through special instruments.
Wright claims Unity Insurance Brokers, a Perth-based firm that arranged the policy, breached its duty of care by failing to disclose the nature of Helibrook’s operations accurately—or to secure a policy aligned with the risks of human sling work. The cross-claim seeks compensation for the denied indemnity, legal costs, and damages related to the loss of the helicopter hull.
In response, HDI has stated that it has "at all times complied fully and in good faith with its obligations to Helibrook in accordance with the terms and conditions of the insurance policy". The company declined to elaborate further while the matter remains before the court.
The case is scheduled to return to the Federal Court before Justice Helen Raper on August 18.
HDI Global Specialty SE
HDI Global Specialty SE is a subsidiary of Germany's Talanx Group and operates as the specialist underwriting arm of HDI Global SE in Australia. It provides cover for complex and niche risks, including aviation, marine, cyber, and contingency. With more than AU$1 billion in gross written premium across its Australian operations in 2024, HDI is a major player in industrial and specialty insurance.
The insurer has also built a reputation for managing international programs, engineering risks, and emerging exposures like autonomous aviation and renewable energy infrastructure. It holds strong financial ratings—A+ (Strong) from S&P and A (Excellent) from A.M. Best.
Unity Insurance Brokers
Unity Insurance Brokers is a Western Australia–based firm with over 40 years of experience in business, transport, and cyber insurance. Its clients span from small businesses to enterprise operators requiring access to international markets.
In Wright’s cross-claim, Unity is accused of negligence for allegedly failing to ensure that Helibrook’s operational disclosures—particularly the use of human sling techniques—were adequately accounted for during the placement of cover.
