Families Sue Matt Wright Over 'War Zone' Airboat Crash

A group of two young families are suing celebrity croc wrangler Matt Wright and his company over an airboat crash in Bynoe Harbour, west of Darwin, that left them "terrified" and one passenger with a horrific head injury.

The lawsuit, filed by NSW couple Ryan and Philippa Payne and Queenslanders Scott and Bianca McFarlane, alleges the 2023 crash left the group suffering physical and psychological injuries as a result of the crash.

Airboat tour 'like being in a war zone'

The families claim they were told to wear earmuffs to block out the noise of the airboat's engine, but were not given any safety briefing about the crocodile tour.

"Other than that information, the applicants were not given any safety briefing about the crocodile tour," the statement of claim reads.

They say they were directed to the airboat "past two large crocodiles on the edge of the water" and took their seats before its driver, "Anton", took off at high speed, despite the vessel having no seatbelts, a functioning radio, or a first aid kit.

When a large tree emerged on the riverbank about 200m ahead, they say Anton continued to speed towards it, with the couples believing he was "joking" and "would swerve at the last moment".

The McFarlanes then cradled their children to their chests while the boat crashed into the tree, "causing a split" and "attaching the airboat to the tree", while leaving them feeling "like they were in a war zone".

The couples say the passenger who suffered the head injury began screaming for her husband, while another woman "was feebly wailing as she drifting [sic] in and out of consciousness".

"The applicants were terrified for themselves and their children because they were marooned in crocodile-infested waters in a broken boat," the document reads.

"[They were] desperate to get help for [the two women] and themselves, but could not because there was no mobile phone reception, functioning radio, or first aid kit."

'Unconscionable' conduct alleged

The couples argue it was "unconscionable" for Mr and Ms Wright to continue operating the airboat tours, as they knew or should have known they posed an "unacceptable risk" to passengers by the time the families boarded the vessel.

The statement of claim cites prior safety breaches the couples say resulted from the Wright's previous business operations, including the death of a Netflix star after one of Mr Wright's helicopters crashed in Arnhem Land in 2022, rendering a pilot a paraplegic.

The document alleges Mr Wright had been issued with a "notice of counselling" as early as March 2016 following a string of allegations relating to his helicopter business.

In September of that year, the document alleges another airboat operated by one of Mr Wright's businesses crashed, injuring a 63-year-old woman and 42-year-old man who were then taken to hospital for treatment.

The Wrights have disputed the version of events as alleged by the Paynes and McFarlanes, broadly rejecting the couples' claims and denying any negligence on their part or that of their businesses or employees.

Case to continue

The Paynes and McFarlanes are seeking damages, including aggravated and exemplary damages, and the case will return to court on October 2.