Reality television personality Matt Wright says he has been left financially devastated after years of legal battles stemming from the fatal 2022 helicopter crash that claimed the life of his close friend and Outback Wrangler co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson.

The latest development comes after Northern Territory Police confirmed they have formally concluded their criminal investigation into the accident, a decision that Wright and others say leaves major questions unanswered about what actually caused the crash.

Wright revealed he has abandoned plans to appeal his criminal convictions because he has exhausted his financial resources after spending approximately $2 million defending himself through multiple court proceedings.

He also confirmed he will represent himself in an upcoming civil lawsuit brought by Danielle Wilson, the widow of Chris Wilson, because he can no longer afford legal representation.

The helicopter crash occurred on 28 February 2022 during a crocodile egg collection operation in remote West Arnhem Land.

Chris “Willow” Wilson, who was suspended beneath the helicopter on a long sling line while collecting eggs, fell to his death when the aircraft crashed.

Pilot Sebastian Robinson survived but suffered catastrophic spinal injuries that left him permanently paralysed.

The tragedy immediately became one of Australia’s highest-profile aviation investigations because of Wright’s prominence through the National Geographic series Outback Wrangler and the Netflix program Wild Croc Territory.

It is important to distinguish between two separate legal processes that followed the accident.

The criminal case against Wright did not concern responsibility for causing the helicopter crash itself.

Instead, prosecutors alleged that after the accident Wright attempted to interfere with the subsequent police investigation by making false statements about fuel levels and encouraging alterations to flight records.

Last year a jury convicted Wright on two counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice, while failing to reach a verdict on a third allegation.

Wright has consistently denied intentionally trying to obstruct investigators and has maintained that his actions were motivated by concern for his injured friend rather than any attempt to conceal wrongdoing.

Following his conviction, Wright served five months in prison before being released earlier this year.

He has since spoken publicly about the emotional toll of incarceration, describing prison as one of the most traumatic experiences of his life while also reflecting on the continuing grief over losing Wilson.

According to Wright, no punishment has been greater than living with the knowledge that his closest friend never came home from the flight.

The newest controversy centres on the decision by Northern Territory Police to officially close their criminal investigation.

While police have concluded their inquiries, Wright argues many critical questions surrounding the accident itself remain unresolved.

Supporters point to findings contained in the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation, which examined the technical circumstances surrounding the crash.

Because ATSB investigations are conducted to improve aviation safety rather than determine criminal liability, their conclusions cannot generally be relied upon to establish guilt in criminal proceedings.

Wright has argued that this created a disconnect between the scientific investigation into the accident and the criminal prosecution that followed.

He says the ATSB report raised issues that deserve to be examined publicly through a coronial inquest.

Industry figures, including experienced helicopter pilots who participated in the documentary Outback Wrangler: Search for Answers, have echoed those calls.

They argue a coronial inquiry would have broader powers to examine evidence surrounding the crash itself, hear expert testimony and make recommendations aimed at improving aviation safety for future crocodile egg collection operations.

The ATSB’s investigation previously identified fuel exhaustion as a key factor contributing to the accident.

However, Wright and some supporters contend important aspects of the evidence deserve further examination in an open coronial process.

Whether such an inquiry will ultimately proceed remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, Wright’s legal difficulties are far from over.

Danielle Wilson’s civil action alleges negligence against Wright and others in connection with her husband’s death.

Unlike the completed criminal proceedings, the civil case will examine issues relating to legal responsibility and compensation under a different evidentiary standard.

Wright has indicated he intends to defend the claim but says financial realities mean he will appear without legal counsel.

The former television star says the financial consequences have extended well beyond legal fees.

His businesses have been severely affected, commercial opportunities have diminished and years of litigation have consumed resources that once supported one of northern Australia’s most recognisable tourism brands.

He describes the combined impact of criminal proceedings, civil litigation, media attention and reputational damage as leaving both his business empire and personal finances under extraordinary strain.

Despite the latest developments, Wright continues insisting that the full story surrounding the helicopter crash has yet to be publicly examined.

He says closing the police investigation does not provide the answers sought by either Wilson’s family or those involved in the accident response.

“No answers” has become the central theme of his recent public appearances, with Wright arguing that only an independent coronial inquest can comprehensively examine all available evidence and determine whether further safety recommendations are required.

For the Wilson family, however, the focus remains on obtaining accountability through the courts following the loss of a husband and father.

As the civil proceedings move closer, both families continue living with the consequences of a tragedy that transformed lives, careers and friendships.

Although the criminal investigation has now concluded, the broader legal and emotional aftermath of the 2022 crash is far from over.