Leicester City helicopter crash deaths accidental, inquest jury concludes
Leicester City helicopter crash deaths accidental, inquest jury concludes
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The deaths of five people who were killed after a helicopter crashed outside the King Power Stadium and became engulfed in flames were accidental, an inquest jury has concluded. Former Leicester City FC owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, referred to in court as Khun Vichai, was killed with the helicopter’s pilot Eric Swaffer, his partner and co-pilot Izabela Lechowicz, and passengers Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare.
The Leonardo AW169 helicopter spun out of control after it took off from the pitch at 8.37pm after a match between Leicester City and West Ham on October 27 2018. The jury of 11 people, who heard evidence over two weeks, concluded on Tuesday that the deaths were accidental.
The conclusion said: “The helicopter had all airworthiness and maintenance certificates. It was found that the pilot, Eric Swaffer, took all available and appropriate options to try to regain control of the helicopter.”. Senior coroner Catherine Mason paid tribute to the people who died in the crash, and said: “Five innocent lives were cruelly lost on October 27 2018, lives that were cut too short.
“This huge loss will be borne by the families for the rest of their lives, a loss that is also felt by the community of Leicester. “It has been a long journey. Just over six years for you, the families, to get the answers you wanted as to how your loved ones came by their deaths.
