Crocodile Wrangler star Matt Wright has spoken to a UK newspaper about the death of his friend and co-star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson while promoting his new Netflix series, telling the tabloid “maybe in time, you know … I’ll explain”.

Two people are currently facing charges in connection to the February helicopter crash that killed Mr Wilson and critically injured pilot Sebastian Robinson.

Mr Wright told the UK Express he was “still processing the death of his close friend” who was killed in February while collecting crocodile eggs in West Arnhem Land.

The Express reported that Mr Wright “has now spoken out about his reaction to his friend’s death, though he struggles to relay the details of the tragic incident”.

“It’s still pretty raw,” the tabloid quoted Mr Wright saying.

“It’s still pretty fresh. Maybe in time, you know … I’ll explain.”

Helicopter pilot Mick Burbidge and former NT Police officer Neil Mellon are both facing charges in connection to the crash, including for allegedly fabricating and destroying evidence. Mr Mellon has also been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and dozens of other criminal charges.

Both men have been ordered by the court not to contact Mr Wright.

It was revealed in court last month by the prosecution in Mr Burbidge’s matter that prominent Darwin businessman and crocodile farmer Mick Burns was at the site of the crash.

The Australian previously reported that Mr Wright was also on Mr Burbidge’s helicopter with Mr Burns and Mr Mellon that travelled to the site of the crash shortly after the incident on February 28.

There were no allegations in court that Mr Wright or Mr Burns committed any offence.

Reports Wright was warned in 2020 about another helicopter he owned that was unsafe

The Australian also reported last week that an aircraft engineer had warned Mr Wright and Mr Robinson in early 2020 that two of their helicopters were unsafe and needed to be “baselined and audited”, warning that “if there is an incident, the ultimate responsibility falls with the responsible owner of the aircraft which is you guys”, an email from Coomalie Air chief engineer Geoff Morton said.

Mr Morton also reportedly told the pair that they “really need to get on top of” the logbooks and technical records for two other choppers, not the one that crashed in February. One of the helicopters was owned by Mr Wright and the other by Mr Robinson.

The helicopter involved in February’s crash was owned by Mr Wright.

The Express reported Mr Wright had “reiterated he wasn’t involved with the incident and was elsewhere when the crash took place”.

“It wasn’t with myself, we weren’t on the jobs or anything,” Mr Wright is quoted as saying.

“The boys were out doing another job with another pilot and stuff.

“Unfortunately, the machine went down and Willow was killed in the process. So, it’s taken a horrible toll this year.”

Mr Wright is understood to be overseas currently promoting his new Netflix series Wild Croc Territory, which has been in Netflix’s top ten most viewed shows.

He also told the UK tabloid that he and wife Kaia found out they were expecting their second child “two days or a day after we found out about Willow”.

He reportedly also said he was considering naming their second child after Mr Wilson, “though he and Kaia had yet to make a decision at the time of the interview”, the paper reported.

Police still seeking photos, video from helicopter VH-IDW

Last month, the NT Police made a public plea for anyone with video or photos of the helicopter involved in the crash to contact them.

“The aircraft involved in the crash, a Robinson R44 Raven II bearing call sign VH-IDW, was believed to be used for scenic and adventure tours in the Northern Territory between 2020 and 2022,” the police statement said.

“Detectives are seeking anyone who may have travelled in this aircraft to contact police on 131 444.”

Police said anonymous reports can still be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestoppersnt.com.au.

“We’re particularly interested in anyone who may have taken photos or videos of, or in this aircraft, to come forward and provide these images to police via the following link,” police said.