The pilot of a helicopter that crashed outside Leicester City’s stadium killing five people ‘did everything in his power’ to stop the tragedy. Eric Swaffer was flying the aircraft that spun out of control, plummeted to the ground and burst into flames shortly after takeoff on October 27, 2018.
Image Credit: Metro [EMBARGOED TO 0001 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 6 File photo dated 02/11/2018 of young fans paying their respects at Leicester City Football Club. The pilot of the helicopter involved in a crash which killed the owner of Leicester City Football Club said: "I've no idea what's going on" as the aircraft was turning out of control. Eric Swaffer, 53, made the comment seconds before the helicopter hit the ground outside the club's King Power Stadium on October 27 2018, a report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) revealed. Issue date: Wednesday September 6, 2023. PA Photo. Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, employees Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, Mr Swaffer and his partner, Izabela Roza Lechowicz - also a professional pilot - were all killed in the accident, which happened shortly after the helicopter took off from the pitch. See PA story AIR Helicopter. Photo credit should read: Nigel French/PA Wire]
He was killed alongside all the other occupants, namely Leicester City’s owner Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Mr Swaffer’s partner, Izabela Roza Lechowicz, and passengers Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare. A jury inquest into their deaths begun today at Leicester Coroners’ Court, sitting at Leicester City Hall, and is set to last between two and three weeks.
Image Credit: Metro [FILE PHOTO: Britain Soccer Football - Leicester City v Everton - Barclays Premier League - King Power Stadium - May 7, 2016 Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha with the trophy as they celebrate winning the Barclays Premier League Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File Photo EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.]
Jurors were shown an animation of the helicopter’s mechanical failure which led to the crash outside King Power Stadium. Air Accidents Investigation Branch principle inspector Mark Jarvis said a duplex bearing on the tail rotor became ‘seized and locked’ when the pilot tried to do a right-hand turn over the stadium.
Image Credit: Metro [Izabela Lechowicz and Eric Swaffer - pilots]
This in turn caused the actuator control shaft to spin ‘very fast’ and led to loss of control of the aircraft. Mr Jarvis told the hearing: ‘The conclusion was that the rotor duplex bearing experienced loading which resulted in pressures within that bearing which was sufficient to cause the lubrication to break down resulting in the bearing seizing and failing.
Image Credit: Metro [Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, and Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, son and wife of Leicester City's owner Thai businessman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, look at tributes left for Vichai and four other people who died when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed as it left the ground after the match on Saturday, in Leicester, Britain, October 29, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls]
![[Izabela Lechowicz and Eric Swaffer - pilots]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_37271961-f526.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, and Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, son and wife of Leicester City's owner Thai businessman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, look at tributes left for Vichai and four other people who died when the helicopter they were travelling in crashed as it left the ground after the match on Saturday, in Leicester, Britain, October 29, 2018. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PRI_91996213-9b2f.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
