The deaths of five individuals, including Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, in a helicopter crash have been ruled accidental by an inquest jury.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, referred to in court as Khun Vichai, lost his life in the crash alongside two of his staff members, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, as well as pilot Eric Swaffer and his girlfriend, fellow pilot Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
The incident occurred on 27 October 2018, as the helicopter was departing from the King Power Stadium in Leicester. The inquest heard that a mechanical fault caused the aircraft to spin “rapidly” out of control before crashing outside the stadium and bursting into flames.
Jon Rudkin, Leicester City’s director of football, who had known Mr. Srivaddhanaprabha for eight years, described witnessing the Leonardo AW169 helicopter begin to “nosedive” shortly after takeoff at 8:37 pm.
“It held its position as it sometimes did,” he said. “As it turned it continued to turn and then go into a spin. As soon as it went on that first full circle, I thought this was strange. It then started to nosedive away from the stadium still rotating in the air.”
Rudkin also recalled seeing the chairman wave and give him a thumbs-up before the helicopter took off.
The inquest was presented with an animation depicting the helicopter’s mechanical failure. It was revealed that a duplex bearing on the tail rotor had become “seized and locked,” causing the actuator control shaft to spin “very fast.”
Mark Jarvis, principal inspector for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), stated that the pilot had done everything possible to avert the crash.
The inquest also heard testimony from police officers who attempted to smash the aircraft’s windscreen after the crash. However, they were unable to break through the “very strong structure,” designed to withstand a bird strike at speeds of up to 180 mph (290 kph).
Sergeant Michael Hooper recounted hearing the trapped pilot, Mr. Swaffer, shouting, “Get me out of here, help me.”
The helicopter had come to rest on its left side, rendering both side doors inaccessible. A fuel leak subsequently caused the aircraft to catch fire.
PC Stephen Quartermain became emotional as he recalled realizing “the people were going to die.”
Pathologists confirmed that Ms. Lechowicz died from injuries sustained upon impact, while the other four victims initially survived the crash but succumbed to smoke inhalation from the ensuing fire.
During the inquest at Leicester City Hall, the jury heard heartfelt tributes to the victims. Mr. Srivaddhanaprabha was described as a “caring and devoted husband, father, uncle, and grandfather.”
In a tribute read by family barrister Philip Shepherd KC, relatives called him “a great inspiration to us all” and said, “We all loved him very much.” They added, “He was adored by everyone for his kind spirit, generosity, charm, sense of humour, and intellect.”
Kate Lechowicz, Ms. Lechowicz’s sister, described her as an “extraordinary individual” who “exuded a passion for life” and “accomplished her tasks with grace and efficiency.”
Kate also paid tribute to pilot Eric Swaffer, stating, “He was great company. He had profound love for aviation, technology, travel, his motorbike, and life in general.”
Tributes were also shared for Kaveporn Punpare, a butler employed by Mr. Srivaddhanaprabha, who left behind a young daughter. His wife’s statement described him as a dedicated assistant who accompanied the chairman’s family on trips.
Nusara Suknamai, another employee of Khun Vichai, was remembered as a “pillar” of her family. Her father, Viroj Suknamai, told Sky News, “She was a lively person, she was the breadwinner of the family. She was the one who looked after the family, and after she passed away, we have had difficulties financially.”
He added, “I remember all the good memories that we had together. I remember when she was in the beauty pageants, I was the one who would drive her there. If she was still here today, she would’ve had a very bright future ahead of her; she could have done many more things in her life.”
Prior to the inquest, Mr. Srivaddhanaprabha’s family initiated a £2.15 billion lawsuit against the helicopter’s manufacturer, Italian company Leonardo SpA. This claim, the largest fatal accident claim in English history according to the family’s lawyers, seeks compensation for loss of earnings and other damages resulting from the billionaire’s death.
