Family of Leicester City's billionaire owner say helicopter crash that killed him and four others was an 'accident waiting to happen'

 

A helicopter crash that k!lled Leicester City's owner and four other people at the King Power Stadium was an 'accident waiting to happen', his family has claimed.

The crash claimed the life of billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha alongside fellow passengers Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, as well as pilot Eric Swaffer and co-pilot Izabela Roza Lechowicz.

On Tuesday, January 28, the jury at Leicester City Hall recorded the five de@ths as accidental.

Khun Vichai's family issued a statement shortly afterwards claiming that the crash was 'inevitable, 'having launched a £2.15billion lawsuit before the inquest began against helicopter manufacturer Leonardo S.p.A.

Philip Shepherd KC, representing the Thai businessman's family, read a statement after the inquest which said the crash was 'an accident waiting to happen'.

He said: 'Whilst it was no part of the inquest process to apportion blame, the evidence heard during this inquest told the story of basic engineering failures by Leonardo.

 

'The inquest heard evidence that the design was such that it was just a matter of time before something catastrophic occurred, it was an accident waiting to happen.

'They were innocent victims of a tragic accident that never needed to happen.

'During the two-and-a-half-week inquest, the jury heard that the helicopter crashed even though it was still new, even though it was properly maintained, and even though it met the minimum certification standards, and even though there was no pilot error whatsoever.

'The family of Khun Vichai continues to search for justice and accountability.'

 

On Monday, senior coroner Catherine Mason had instructed the jury before they began their deliberations that only an accidental conclusion could be reached. 

'These were remarkable individuals who were greatly loved and will be terribly missed. This hearing is to explain to the world how they came to die.'

 

The jury was told to 'accept and follow' the findings of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch's (AAIB) probe into the crash, including that the pilot took 'appropriate' measures and 'did not contribute' to the helicopter's loss of control.

 

The inquest was told by Mark Jarvis, a principal inspector for the AAIB, that the helicopter spun due to a mechanical fault. 

 

A bearing in the tail rotor became 'seized', causing a control shaft to rotate and become unscrewed.

 

The helicopter crashed onto its left-hand side on a concrete step, leading to a 'substantial' fuel leak which ignited the rear of the aircraft within a minute of the impact. Flames 'rapidly' consumed the helicopter.

 

'The helicopter crash was a terrible tragedy that cost the lives of five people,' she said. 

The jury also heard that the helicopter had only flown for 330 hours and was 'in the early stages of its life'. The court heard that four of the five people k!lled in the crash d!ed because of smoke inhalation after the fire broke out, while Ms Lechowicz 'likely d!ed at the point of impact' as a result of traumatic injuries to both her head and chest.

 

Dr Michael Biggs, a forensic pathologist, told the inquest that there was no evidence to suggest the pilot was medically incapacitated at the time of the crash. 

 

The jury was told that the report made it clear the pilot did 'nothing wrong' and attempted to save the passengers by reducing the rate of the helicopter's spin.

 

However, it was established that the 'crash landing was inevitable'. 

 

The jury's conclusion, which was read to the hearing by the foreperson, said: 'The helicopter had all airworthiness and maintenance certificates.