2 days ago
Pilot's alleged spray at Outback Wrangler
A young pilot told the Outback Wrangler to 'get f--ked, get vaccinated and go fly his own helicopter' after his boss chewed him out for pulling out of an unsafe mission.
Sebastian Robinson on Friday finished giving evidence after being grilled over four days in the trial of Aussie reality television star, Matt Wright.
The Apple TV and Netflix star has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice during the investigation into a chopper crash that killed his co-star Chris 'Willow' Wilson.
It is not alleged Mr Wright is responsible for the crash.
On Friday the Northern Territory jury heard about the 'Australia Day incident' where the 28-year-old pilot and Mr Wright had a fight a month before the fatal crash. Pilot Sebastian Robinson and Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright on a crocodile egg collecting mission in January 2016. Photo: Supplied Credit: Supplied
Mr Robinson said on January 26, he, Mr Wilson and fellow pilot Michael Burbidge were contracted for a crocodile egg collecting mission at the mouth of the Daly River, in the NT.
The jury was shown photos of the chopper with an oncoming Wet Season storm looming in the background.
Mr Robinson said he radioed Mr Burbidge to say 'it was too dangerous to continue, because the storm was huge', and they mutually agreed to head back into town.
He said they went back to the Noonamah Tavern to watch the traditional Australia Day 'ute run' and have a 'beer and a feed'. Outback Wrangler Matt Wright and his wife Kaia Wright approaching the Supreme Court in Darwin. NewsWire / Pema Tamang Pakhrin Credit: NewsWire Pilot Sebastian Robinson during filming of Kane Chenoweth's documentary Sky Cowboy in February 2022. Credit: Supplied
Mr Robinson said Mr Wright called him 'very hostile and abusive', telling the young pilot 'What the f--k are youse doing back? Egg collecting's not meant to be f—king easy'.
'You sit out there, you f--king ... you wait the weather out. You f--king deal with it,' Mr Wright allegedly said.
The jury has previously heard Mr Wright was not able to take part in egg collecting missions in early 2022 because he was an 'anti-vaxxer'.
'I told him to get f--ked, get vaccinated and fly his own helicopter,' Mr Robinson said on Friday.
In a group chat with Mr Burbidge and Mr Wilson, the young pilot alleged Mr Wright 'called us all bludgers' for pulling out of the dangerous conditions.
The young pilot this contributed to his decision to leave Mr Wright's Helibrook, and he establishing his own company Arnhem Helicopters.
Mr Wright sent Mr Robinson a message the next day saying he was 'sorry for blowing up'.
The trial continues on Monday.
