Latest news with #OutbackWrangler
West Australian
14-05-2025
- West Australian
Update in legal fight over Outback Wrangler co-star Chris Wilson's death
The Australian air safety regulator has lost its attempt to be struck from a lawsuit over the death of Outback Wrangler co-star Chris Wilson. Mr Wilson was killed in a helicopter crash while on a crocodile egg collecting expedition in the Northern Territory in February 2022. Pilot Sebastian Robinson was left a paraplegic. At the time of the crash, Mr Wilson was being hung from the helicopter by a sling. Last year, his widow Danielle Wilson began proceedings in the Federal Court seeking damages for personal injury as well as for the loss of her husband's income. She is suing the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Outback Wrangler co-star Matt Wright and his company Helibrook. She appeared on Wednesday in the Federal Court, where an interlocutory hearing was brought by CASA before Justice Elizabeth Raper. The regulator was seeking to have the case brought against it struck out, arguing Helibrook was instead at fault for Mr Wilson's death because it failed to comply with safety regulations. CASA argued that Ms Wilson's statement of claim did not have 'reasonable prospects of success' and the proceedings were 'frivolous'. However, Ms Wilson's solicitor David Lloyd SC told the court that CASA was a 'significant cause' of the TV star's death. 'To put it shortly, the primary case against CASA is that Mr Wilson should never have been in the air, and CASA should never have cleared activities of that kind,' he said. Meanwhile, Russell McIlwaine SC, acting on behalf of CASA, told the court that Helibrook was to blame. 'Had Helibrook complied with those conditions imposed by CASA, the accident wouldn't have happened and Mr Wilson wouldn't have been killed,' he said. The court was told a sling height limit of five metres was imposed by CASA to ensure the safety of Mr Wilson while he collected the crocodile eggs. However, it's alleged that Helibrook did not comply with this height limit, which was intended to 'assist someone in the helicopter' if 'something goes wrong' or an emergency landing was needed. Mr McIlwaine added that CASA could 'not be expected' to go out and supervise 'every flight of every aircraft'. 'CASA is entitled to set rules which people are expected to obey …. which on this day, they were not obeyed,' he argued. Justice Raper dismissed CASA's interlocutory application, finding the regulator's claims were 'untenable'. Ms Wilson reflected on Justice Raper's decision outside federal court on Wednesday. 'It's been more than three years since we lost Willow in the most tragic of circumstances,' she said. 'I am pleased that today in court we heard that we do have an arguable case against CASA.'
Perth Now
14-05-2025
- Perth Now
Update in legal fight over Netflix star's death
The Australian air safety regulator has lost its attempt to be struck from a lawsuit over the death of Outback Wrangler co-star Chris Wilson. Mr Wilson was killed in a helicopter crash while on a crocodile egg collecting expedition in the Northern Territory in February 2022. Pilot Sebastian Robinson was left a paraplegic. At the time of the crash, Mr Wilson was being hung from the helicopter by a sling. Last year, his widow Danielle Wilson began proceedings in the Federal Court seeking damages for personal injury as well as for the loss of her husband's income. She is suing the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Outback Wrangler co-star Matt Wright and his company Helibrook. Danielle Wilson said she was pleased to have an 'arguable case' against the Australian air safety regulator. Christian Gilles / NewsWire Credit: NewsWire She appeared on Wednesday in the Federal Court, where an interlocutory hearing was brought by CASA before Justice Elizabeth Raper. The regulator was seeking to have the case brought against it struck out, arguing Helibrook was instead at fault for Mr Wilson's death because it failed to comply with safety regulations. CASA argued that Ms Wilson's statement of claim did not have 'reasonable prospects of success' and the proceedings were 'frivolous'. However, Ms Wilson's solicitor David Lloyd SC told the court that CASA was a 'significant cause' of the TV star's death. 'To put it shortly, the primary case against CASA is that Mr Wilson should never have been in the air, and CASA should never have cleared activities of that kind,' he said. Meanwhile, Russell McIlwaine SC, acting on behalf of CASA, told the court that Helibrook was to blame. Chris 'Willow' Wilson with his wife Danielle. Supplied Credit: Supplied 'Had Helibrook complied with those conditions imposed by CASA, the accident wouldn't have happened and Mr Wilson wouldn't have been killed,' he said. The court was told a sling height limit of five metres was imposed by CASA to ensure the safety of Mr Wilson while he collected the crocodile eggs. However, it's alleged that Helibrook did not comply with this height limit, which was intended to 'assist someone in the helicopter' if 'something goes wrong' or an emergency landing was needed. Mr McIlwaine added that CASA could 'not be expected' to go out and supervise 'every flight of every aircraft'. 'CASA is entitled to set rules which people are expected to obey …. which on this day, they were not obeyed,' he argued. Justice Raper dismissed CASA's interlocutory application, finding the regulator's claims were 'untenable'. Ms Wilson reflected on Justice Raper's decision outside federal court on Wednesday. 'It's been more than three years since we lost Willow in the most tragic of circumstances,' she said. 'I am pleased that today in court we heard that we do have an arguable case against CASA.'
West Australian
14-05-2025
- West Australian
Legal win for widow after Outback Wrangler star's death
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 Mr Wright, his company Helibrook, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) over the crash. The mother-of-two is seeking damages for personal injury and 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. Mr 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. "Mr Wilson should never have been in the air ... and CASA should never have approved activities of that kind," Mr 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. Mr 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.
The Advertiser
14-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Legal win for widow after Outback Wrangler star's death
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 Mr Wright, his company Helibrook, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) over the crash. The mother-of-two is seeking damages for personal injury and 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. Mr 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. "Mr Wilson should never have been in the air ... and CASA should never have approved activities of that kind," Mr 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. Mr 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. 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 Mr Wright, his company Helibrook, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) over the crash. The mother-of-two is seeking damages for personal injury and 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. Mr 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. "Mr Wilson should never have been in the air ... and CASA should never have approved activities of that kind," Mr 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. Mr 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. 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 Mr Wright, his company Helibrook, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) over the crash. The mother-of-two is seeking damages for personal injury and 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. Mr 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. "Mr Wilson should never have been in the air ... and CASA should never have approved activities of that kind," Mr 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. Mr 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. 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 Mr Wright, his company Helibrook, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) over the crash. The mother-of-two is seeking damages for personal injury and 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. Mr 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. "Mr Wilson should never have been in the air ... and CASA should never have approved activities of that kind," Mr 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. Mr 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.
Perth Now
14-05-2025
- Perth Now
Legal win for widow after Outback Wrangler star's death
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 Mr Wright, his company Helibrook, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) over the crash. The mother-of-two is seeking damages for personal injury and 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. Mr 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. "Mr Wilson should never have been in the air ... and CASA should never have approved activities of that kind," Mr 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. Mr 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.
