Leicester City owner’s death in helicopter crash was accidental, inquest finds
The deaths of five people, including Leicester City’s owner, in a helicopter crash were accidental, an inquest jury has ruled.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, referred to in court as Khun Vichai, died in the crash along with two of his staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer, and Mr Swaffer’s girlfriend Izabela Roza Lechowicz, a fellow pilot.
The jury delivered its verdict on Tuesday after being previously instructed to conclude that the crash was accidental.
Philip Shepherd KC, representing the relatives of Khun Vichai, said those who died were the “innocent victims of a tragic accident that never needed to happen”.
His son Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, described his father as “one-of-a-kind, an investor in dreams” and said: “We miss him and feel his loss every day.”
“My father trusted in the design of this helicopter,” he said in a statement. It wasn’t safe. It was a death trap.”
As the helicopter was leaving the King Power Stadium in Leicester on 27 October 2018, a fault caused it to spin “rapidly” out of control before it crashed outside the stadium and burst into flames, the inquest heard.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others died when their helicopter crashed in 2018. Pic: PA
Jon Rudkin, Leicester City’s director of football, who had known Mr Srivaddhanaprabha for eight years, described the moment the Leonardo AW169 helicopter started to “nosedive” after taking off at 8.37pm.
“It held its position as it sometimes did,” he said. “As it turned it continued to turn and then go into a spin.
“As soon as it went on that first full circle, I thought this was strange.
“It then started to nosedive away from the stadium still rotating in the air.”
Tributes at a memorial outside Leicester City’s ground after the crash. Pic: AP
Mr Rudkin told the inquest he saw the chairman wave and give him a thumbs up before the helicopter took off.
The inquest was shown an animation of the helicopter’s mechanical failure and told a duplex bearing on the tail rotor became “seized and locked”, which caused the actuator control shaft to spin “very fast”.
Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) principal inspector Mark Jarvis said the pilot had done everything he could to try to avoid the crash.
The inquest also heard how police officers tried to smash the aircraft’s windscreen after it crashed, but would never have been able to break the “very strong structure” designed to withstand a bird strike at a speed of 180mph (290kph).
Nusara Suknamai was among those who died in the crash
Sergeant Michael Hooper said he could hear the helicopter’s trapped pilot, Mr Swaffer, shouting: “Get me out of here, help me.”
The crashed helicopter was resting on its left-hand side, meaning neither side door could be opened. A fuel leak then caused the aircraft to catch fire.
PC Stephen Quartermain became emotional as he remembered realising “the people were going to die”.
Ms Lechowicz died from injuries sustained when the helicopter hit the ground – but the other four victims initially survived the crash, and were killed by smoke inhalation from the fire, a pathologist told the inquest.
Prince William and Kate visited the stadium to pay their respects in the wake of the crash. Pic: AP
‘Caring and devoted’
As the inquest opened at Leicester City Hall, the jury heard pen portraits of the victims, with Mr Srivaddhanaprabha described as a “caring and devoted husband, father, uncle and grandfather”.
In a tribute read by family barrister Philip Shepherd KC, relatives called him “a great inspiration to us all” and said: “We all loved him very much.”
They added: “He was adored by everyone for his kind spirit, generosity, charm, sense of humour and intellect.”
A statue of Mr Srivaddhanaprabha now stands outside the King Power Stadium. Pic: PA
Kate Lechowicz, Ms Lechowicz’s sister, described her in a statement as an “extraordinary individual” who “exuded a passion for life” and who “accomplished her task with grace and efficiency”.
Kate Lechowicz also read a tribute to the helicopter’s pilot, Mr Swaffer, and said: “He was great company. He had profound love for aviation, technology, travel, his motorbike and life in general.”
Tributes were also paid to passenger Kaveporn Punpare, who had a young daughter and was one of several butlers employed by the late Leicester City chairman.
A statement prepared for the inquest by his wife said he had initially worked for Mr Srivaddhanaprabha as an assistant butler who accompanied family members on trips.
Meanwhile, Nusara Suknamai, an employee of Khun Vichai’s, was described as a “pillar” of her family.
Speaking to Sky News, her father, Viroj Suknamai, said: “She was a lively person, she was the breadwinner of the family.
“She was the one who looked after the family and after she passed away we have had difficulties financially.”
Ms Suknamai was a former Miss Thailand contestant.
Her father said: “I remember all the good memories that we had together, I remember when she was in the beauty pageants, I was the one who would drive her there.
“If she was still here today she would’ve had a very bright future ahead of her, she could have done many more things in her life.”
Before the start of the inquest, Mr Srivaddhanaprabha’s family launched a £2.15bn lawsuit against the helicopter’s manufacturer, Italian company Leonardo SpA.
It is the largest fatal accident claim in English history, according to the family’s lawyers. The sum is for loss of earnings and other damages as a result of the billionaire’s death.
Immigration was the first thing on the government’s agenda to kick off the first week back from recess, and they wanted you to know it.
The home secretary gave an update to the House, announcing a shakeup of family reunion rules for asylum seekers, even before some backbenchers had made it back to parliament from their break.
Facing criticism for being on the back foot after a summer of protest outside asylum hotels, they were keen to defend their record and get back on track – but is it too late?
It’s a clear nod to the political void Reform UK has seized on while the prime minister has been on holiday.
Last week, Nigel Farage unveiled his party’s mass deportation policy – though the issue of women and children still seems to be worked out.
But perhaps none of that matters as voters overwhelmingly believe Reform cares about this issue – and as Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, pointed out on Monday, voters have lost confidence in the government somewhat to solve what many see as an immigration crisis on their doorstep.
So it’s clear the strategy has changed from the government.
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‘Substantial reforms are needed now’
Gone are the bold slogans of “smashing the gangs” and instead, detail and policy was given on Monday. It was nothing new, but more substance on what the government has done and where they want to move to. Even controversially, reassessing their relationship with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
The biggest update though, was on their one-in-one-out policy agreement with France, which will now set to start returns later this month.
It’s finally hit home for the government that the public want proof not just rhetoric, and they want to know crucially when they will start to see change.
But the fightback, the reset, whatever the government wants to call it, will only make a difference once that finally starts to work.
Police are asking for help with an unsolved case, 52 years after the murder of a schoolboy in Belfast.
Brian McDermott was 10 when he disappeared from Ormeau Park on Sunday 2 September 1973. His remains were recovered from the River Lagan almost a week later.
Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Legacy Investigation Branch have given a timeline of events as part of their appeal.
Brian left his home on Well Street in the lower Woodstock Road area of east Belfast at around 12.30pm and failed to return for his Sunday dinner.
Detectives said he was last seen playing alone in the playground between 1pm and 3pm that afternoon.
His remains were recovered in the water, close to the Belfast Boat Club.
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River Lagan, where the remains of schoolboy Brian McDermott were recovered. Pic: PSNI handout/PA
A PSNI spokesperson said: “We are acutely aware of the pain and suffering that Brian’s family continue to feel, and our thoughts very much remain with the family at this time.
“Despite the passage of time, this murder case has never been closed and I am hopeful that someone may be able to provide information, no matter how small, which may open a new line of inquiry, or add a new dimension to information already available.
“It is also possible that someone who did not volunteer information at the time may be willing to speak with police now. Legacy Investigation Branch Detectives will consider all investigative opportunities as part of the review into Brian’s murder.”
The transfer window was a show of strength in a record-breaking summer across the Premier League.
The totaliser crept over £3bn in spending, with more than half of it flowing among the 20 clubs rather than having a redistributing effect across Europe.
The start of new Premier League TV deals – the biggest individual source of income being from Sky News’ parent company Comcast – provides certainty for the next four years, while rival leagues can struggle to sell rights.
And the feared threat from Saudi Arabia has not materialised. It is an attractive and lucrative destination for some players, but not yet the ultimate destination.
But the kingdom has still influenced this transfer window.
Alexander Isak has joined Liverpool. Pic: Reuters
Let’s start with Newcastle, four years into their ownership by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.
Having secured a return to the Champions League, bringing UEFA riches, this was the summer to grow rather than lose talent to rivals.
But the Premier League’s pecking order became clear when Alexander Isak pushed for a move to Liverpool and rejected bids that did not deter his ambitions.
Player power won out.
The 25-year-old striker was able to withdraw himself from the squad, miss the opening three matches of the season, and put out a statement claiming promises had been broken by the Magpies.
Read more: Isak completes £125m Liverpool move
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Will Liverpool’s spend equal success?
Liverpool ‘loading up on talent’
And so he held on until deadline day, biding his time, sitting it out, and standing firm. Newcastle folded, accepting £125m – £20m lower than their apparent valuation.
Breaking the British record fee was Liverpool’s American ownership flexing financial muscle like never before.
The Premier League champions allowed manager Arne Slot to build from a position of strength.
This was the second time they broke the record in this window after bringing in another forward, Florian Wirtz, in a £116m deal.
More than £400m in reinforcements arrived at Anfield in a matter of weeks.
Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow told Sky Sports: “Liverpool are making hay while the sun shines, going for it. Really loading up on talent.
“Other clubs should be fearful and respectful of the way [Fenway Sports Group] are running their club.”
Eberechi Eze (centre right), who left Palace for Arsenal this summer, celebrates winning the FA Cup final. Pic: PA
The Isak deal weakened their Champions League rivals from the North East after banking £57m from another club owned by the Public Investment Fund when Darwin Nunez was offloaded to Saudi.
And PIF funded Chelsea’s summer spending spree in less obvious ways.
The Blues did negotiate a £44m package with PIF-backed Al Nassr deal for Joao Felix, recouping the fee paid just a year earlier.
But then there was the £90m prize money collected for winning the new FIFA Club World Cup – a competition bankrolled by PIF subsidiaries.
Where does this leave Newcastle? Still spending around £250m.
Florian Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen. Pic: AP
Players and Liverpool couldn’t get all their way this summer, with Marc Guehi forced to stay at Crystal Palace after the FA Cup winners failed to secure a replacement for the England centre-back.
The late drama was just the latest of the summer transfer window’s twists and turns.
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Both Arsenal and Manchester United also spent more than £200m each. The Gunners spent big in pursuit of a title that’s eluded them since 2004, while the Red Devils are just trying to get back into the Champions League.
It added up to a new record total outlay that comfortably eclipsed the previous Premier League record of £2.46bn from 2023.
The £3bn is more than the rest of Europe combined, showing both where the power is in world football and why the Premier League is the one the world wants to watch.
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