Wreaths are held by the family in honour of the late Leicester City Owner Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and other people that lost their lives in a helicopter crash. Photo: Photosport
The deaths of five people in a helicopter crash at the King Power Stadium in October 2018, including Leicester City soccer club owner Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, were accidental, an inquest jury has concluded.
Vichai, the Thai tycoon who pumped millions of pounds into the club that famously won the Premier League title in 2015-16, was killed along with four others when his helicopter crashed in the club's car park and exploded after a match on 27 October, 2018.
The Leonardo AW169 helicopter had cleared the top of the stadium before starting to spin, and plummeted to the ground before bursting into flames.
The crash also killed pilot Eric Swaffer, his partner Izabela Lechowicz, and Vichai's staff members Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punparev. The inquest lasted two-and-a-half weeks.
Philip Shepherd, the Vichai family's legal representative, said Swaffer was a "highly competent and very experienced pilot who did everything in his power" to control the helicopter when the tail rotor failed shortly after takeoff.
Vichai's family are actively continuing their legal action against Italian defence company Leonardo, the manufacturer of the helicopter.
They are seeking compensation for loss of earnings and other damages, valued at 2.15 billion pounds ($NZ4.72 billion) -- the largest fatal accident claim in English legal history.
According to Forbes magazine, Vichai was the fifth-richest person in Thailand at the time of his death.
Leonardo was not immediately available for comment but said this month that it would defend itself against the High Court claim.
It expressed its deepest sympathy for the victims of the crash, saying their deaths were "an unquestionable tragedy".
- Reuters
