Leicester City helicopter crash inquest reaches verdict amid £2.15bn compensation claim
Leicester City helicopter crash inquest reaches verdict amid £2.15bn compensation claim
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The helicopter crash in which Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others died was an accident, a three-week inquest has ruled. Khun Vichai, fellow passengers Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, pilot Eric Swaffer and Mr Swaffer's partner Izabela Lechowicz all died in the crash outside King Power Stadium after a 1-1 draw against West Ham on October 27 2018.
On Tuesday a jury returned a conclusion to coroner Prof Catherine Mason that the crash was accidental. The three-week inquest heard from Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) principal inspector Mark Jarvis that the pilot did everything he could to try to avoid the crash.
And Philip Shepherd KC, representing the family of Khun Vichai, said those who died were "innocent victims of a tragic accident that never needed to happen.". Jurors, who were shown an animation of the helicopter's mechanical failure, heard from pathologist Michael Biggs that those on board died “quite rapidly” from smoke inhalation after the helicopter, which was manufactured by Leonardo, caught fire.
The family of Khun Vichai are pressing on with a £2.15bn compensation claim, against Leonardo, that they say is the biggest of its kind in British history. Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, the son of Khun Vichai, said: “My father trusted in the design of this helicopter. It was Leonardo’s responsibility to make sure the helicopter was safe. It wasn’t safe. It was a death trap.
