Leicester City FC owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, along with four others, died in a 2018 helicopter crash caused by mechanical failure, which an inquest jury has ruled was accidental. This article contains details that may be distressing to some readers.
Referred to in court as Khun Vichai, Mr. Srivaddhanaprabha lost his life along with two staff members, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer, and Mr. Swaffer’s partner and fellow pilot, Izabela Roza Lechowicz. The jury delivered its verdict on Tuesday, concluding the crash was an accident.
Philip Shepherd KC, representing Khun Vichai’s relatives, described the victims as “innocent” and said the tragedy “never needed to happen.” Khun Vichai’s son, Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, described his father as “one-of-a-kind, an investor in dreams,” adding, “We miss him and feel his loss every day.” He criticized the helicopter’s safety, calling it a “death trap.”
The crash occurred on October 27, 2018, as the helicopter was leaving King Power Stadium in Leicester. A mechanical fault caused it to spin uncontrollably before crashing outside the stadium and bursting into flames. An inquest revealed that a duplex bearing on the tail rotor had seized, causing a key component to spin rapidly.
Jon Rudkin, Leicester City’s director of football, witnessed the incident and described how the Leonardo AW169 helicopter began to spin and nosedive shortly after takeoff. He recalled seeing the chairman wave and give a thumbs up moments before the crash.
Mark Jarvis, principal inspector for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), stated that the pilot had done everything possible to prevent the crash. The inquest also heard how police officers attempted to smash the helicopter’s windscreen to rescue those inside, but the aircraft’s robust design made it impossible. A fuel leak caused a fire, and the helicopter’s resting position on its side rendered the doors inaccessible.
This tragic accident remains a poignant moment for all connected to Leicester City FC and those who knew the victims.
