Criminal charges against senior NT Police officer Neil Mellon for attempting to pervert the course of justice and destroying evidence are connected to the investigation into the February fatal helicopter crash that killed Outback Wrangler cast member Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson, with another 40-year-old officer charged on Friday afternoon in connection to the crash investigation.

Sources have confirmed to the NT Independent that the 40-year-old is a current member of the Territory Response Group, the elite tactical unit formerly led by Sgt Mellon, and that the charges relate to the helicopter crash probe.

NT Police told The Australian on Saturday that they will allege Sgt Mellon asked the other officer to sign a false statement following the February chopper crash at King River that claimed the life of Mr Wilson while collecting crocodile eggs in West Arnhem Land.

The NT Independent first reported earlier in the week that it was Sgt Mellon who had been arrested and handcuffed at his office on Thursday morning while working as watch commander, with police later charging him with 31 offences, including conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and destruction of evidence connected to an ongoing major crash investigation.

He was also charged with disclosing confidential information and obtaining benefit by deception, as well as other charges including possessing prohibited weapons, fireworks and protected wildlife offences.

The Australian reported yesterday afternoon that Sgt Mellon is alleged to have immediately flown to the scene of the helicopter crash while off-duty on February 28 to retrieve “his friend’s body” before emergency services had arrived.

The crash also sent 28-year-old helicopter pilot Sebastian Robinson to hospital in a critical condition, but he survived.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s preliminary investigation into the fatal crash that saw the engine of the Robinson R44 chopper stop before hitting the ground, had not identified any defects in the engine likely to result in it cutting out. A final report is still to be completed.

Mr Robinson was piloting the chopper at the time Mr Wilson was suspended 30 metres below the aircraft in a harness system collecting crocodile eggs when it crashed, killing Mr Wilson.

Mr Wilson, 34, was a longtime friend and colleague of crocodile wrangler Matt Wright, and appeared on National Geographic’s Outback Wrangler program, that is seen in 130 countries.

He was also the managing director of Northern Australia Civil, a company whose co-director is crocodile farmer and Darwin publican Mick Burns.

NT Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White said on Friday that the investigation into Sgt Mellon’s involvement in the major crash had been ongoing for six months.

“It will be alleged by police that the actions of this officer have undermined the integrity of the Northern Territory Police and the community of the Northern Territory,” he said.

“It is a very disappointing, upsetting and frustrating event that’s occurred.”

Police did not specifically mention which major crash Sgt Mellon was alleged to have been involved in on Friday, but the unusual process of holding a press conference for charges against a serving officer was questioned by some in the ranks.

Mr White said the ICAC and the NT Ombudsman will have oversight of the investigation into Sgt Mellon and the other officer’s alleged offences.