Outback Wrangler Matt Wright and his wife Kaia have been charged in connection with an airboat crash that left one woman with a fractured skull and seriously injured seven others.
The boat crashed on May 10, 2023 near Sweets Lagoon in the Bynoe region of the Northern Territory, about 118km south-west of Darwin.
Adventure company Top End Safari Camp, along with Wright, and his influencer wife as directors, could be fined a total of more than $5 million over the incident after being charged by NT WorkSafe.
Airboats, flat-bottomed ships, are propelled by enormous fans instead of engines and glide over the surface of the water.
On the day of the crash, seventeen months ago, there were 26 tourists on two airboats, and half of those passengers were children.
One of the airboats, named Gale Force, struck a half-submerged tree with such force during the outing that the 13 passengers were all thrown from their seats.
Matt and Kaia Wright were not aboard the ship, which was piloted by an employee.
NT WorkSafe claimed eight passengers were injured, with one woman suffering a skull fracture and severe scalp laceration. The Nocturnal reported.
Two other women were taken to hospital with head and leg injuries.
Outback Wrangler Matt Wright and his wife Kaia (pictured) have been charged in connection with an airboat crash that left one woman with a fractured skull and seriously injured seven others
The boat crashed near Sweets Lagoon in the Bynoe region of the Northern Territory on May 10, 2023. File image of an airboat ride through the Top End Safari Camp
NT WorkSafe has sued Top End Safari Camp Pty Ltd for breaching the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011.
The charges include breaching its primary duty of care by failing to ensure the health and safety of its employees or passengers.
The company is also alleged to have breached its primary duty of care by failing to ensure a working environment, failing to provide and maintain a safe vessel, and failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work maintained.
It is also accused of failing to ensure that the airboat does not pose a risk to the health and safety of any person, as required under the law.
Gale Force also allegedly operated without seat belts, life jackets, life preserver or first aid kit on board.
The radio also reportedly wasn’t working the day it crashed.
Both airboats operating that day are believed to have exceeded maximum passenger limits, NT WorkSafe claimed.
The company also allegedly did not implement risk assessments, risk registers or safety management plans for airboat operations specified in its safety management system until after the crash.
If Top End Safari Camp is found guilty of all charges, the fine could be up to $4 million.
Matt Wright, his influencer wife Kaia (pictured) and their adventure company Top End Safari Camp could be fined more than $5 million over the incident
Mr and Mrs Wright, the company’s two directors, have been charged with three breaches of the law and face combined fines of up to $700,000 each.
They are accused of breaching their duty as officers and breaching their primary duty of care.
The charge will be referred to Darwin Local Court for mention on December 5.
In addition to the couple’s tourism activities, Ms. Wright is an influencer who regularly shares brand-sponsored content with her 120,000 Instagram followers.
The airboat crash is not related to a helicopter crash in February 2022 that killed Mr Wright’s Outback Wrangler co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.
Wilson, 34, was dangling from a helicopter to collect crocodile eggs in western Arnhem Land when the plane crashed into trees and crashed to the ground, killing him.
In 2023, Mr. Wilson’s widow, Danielle, initiated proceedings in federal court seeking damages for personal injuries and for the loss of her husband’s income.
Wright will stand trial from July 7 next year on charges relating to the helicopter crash investigation, which is expected to last eight weeks.
The Netflix celebrity pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice following the crash that killed Wilson.
The sole charge relates to alleged conduct in the aftermath of the crash in which Mr Wright was reportedly one of the first on the scene.
Pilot Sebastian Robinson was also seriously injured.
The prosecution is expected to call 125 witnesses.