A devastating helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Leicester City’s billionaire owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others was “an accident waiting to happen,” his family has stated.
The tragic incident occurred outside the King Power Stadium, also killing passengers Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, along with pilot Eric Swaffer and co-pilot Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
On Tuesday, January 28, a jury at Leicester City Hall ruled the five deaths as accidental. However, Srivaddhanaprabha’s family has maintained that the crash was inevitable, having previously filed a £2.15 billion lawsuit against the helicopter’s manufacturer, Leonardo S.p.A.
Philip Shepherd KC, the family’s legal representative, read a statement after the inquest, emphasizing concerns over engineering failures.
“The inquest heard evidence that the design was such that it was just a matter of time before something catastrophic occurred—it was an accident waiting to happen,” he said.
Despite the aircraft being new, well-maintained, and meeting certification standards, the jury heard that a mechanical fault caused the crash. Investigators determined that a seized bearing in the tail rotor led to a loss of control, making the crash “inevitable.”
Four of the victims reportedly died due to smoke inhalation after the helicopter erupted in flames, while Ms. Lechowicz suffered fatal traumatic injuries upon impact.
“The family of Khun Vichai continues to search for justice and accountability,” Shepherd stated.
Senior coroner Catherine Mason instructed the jury to conclude that the deaths were accidental. “This hearing is to explain to the world how they came to die,” she said.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed that the pilot acted appropriately and did not contribute to the crash. Investigators emphasized that the helicopter, which had only flown for 330 hours, was in the “early stages of its life.”
Despite efforts to regain control, the crash landing was unavoidable. The jury’s conclusion, read aloud in court, confirmed that the helicopter had all required airworthiness and maintenance certifications.
The tragedy remains a painful chapter for Leicester City and the Srivaddhanaprabha family, who continue to seek accountability for the lives lost.