January 29 – A helicopter crash that killed the owner of Premier League club Leicester City and four others was an accident, an inquest jury has concluded.
City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was among those who died in October 2018 when the Thai billionaire’s personal helicopter burst into flames shortly after taking off from the club’s King Power Stadium following a match.
The inquest examined his death, along with those of the aircraft’s pilot, Eric Swaffer, his partner and two other passengers.
Senior coroner Catherine Mason told the jury they should “accept and follow” the findings of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) that the crash was accidental.
Mark Jarvis, the principle inspector at AAIB, told the inquest that a duplex bearing on the tail rotor – which contributes to stability – became “seized and locked”.
“Our conclusion was that the pilot had done everything in his power to try to avoid and correct the situation he found himself in,” said Jarvis.
“The helicopter was out of control. The only control the pilot had was on the rate of descent of the helicopter during extremely disorientating conditions.
“The pilot took quick action and took the only actions he could do and continued to try and take those actions. The pilot did everything possibly expected of him.”
The jury concluded that “the helicopter had all airworthiness and maintenance certificates”.
In a tribute read to the court during the inquiry by the lawyer for Srivaddhanaprabha’s family, he was described as “a good man with a good heart”.
“We miss him every day,” the family said. “The pain his death caused and continues to cause our family is immeasurable.”
The family statement also paid tribute to his role in reviving Leicester’s fortunes and bankrolling their shock Premier League title triumph in 2016 after the club were 5,000/1 rank outsiders to be crowned champions at the start of that season.
Srivaddhanaprabha’s family are actively continuing their legal action against Italian defence company Leonardo, manufacturer of the helicopter. Leonardo said this month that they would defend themselves against the High Court claim.
The family is seeking compensation for loss of earnings and other damages, valued at £2.15 billion – the largest fatal accident claim in English legal history.
“My father trusted in the design of this helicopter,” Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Vichai’s son, said. “It was Leonardo’s responsibility to make sure the helicopter was safe.
“It wasn’t safe. It was a death trap. My family are thankful to Senior Coroner [Catherine] Mason for her inquest, which has shone a spotlight on what happened on 27 October 2018.”
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