Leicester City’s owners have launched historic legal action against a helicopter manufacturer after the club’s president died in an accident in 2018.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s family sues Italian company Leonardo SpA for £2.15 billion after the 60-year-old president and four others were killed when their helicopter crashed just outside the King Power Stadium in October 2018.
It is the largest fatal accident claim in English history, according to the family’s lawyers. They are seeking compensation for lost income and other damages resulting from the billionaire’s death.
The legal action comes more than six years after the fatal crash and as an investigation into the deaths of the 60-year-old president and his traveling companions is expected to begin Monday.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha celebrates after Leicester City won the Premier League in 2016. Photo: AP
Mr. Srivaddhanaprabha’s son Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, who took over as president of the club, said: “My family feels the loss of my father as much today as ever.
“The fact that my own children and their cousins will never know their grandfather compounds our suffering… My father trusted Leonardo when he bought this helicopter, but the findings of the report into his death show that his trust was fatally misplaced. I hold them entirely responsible for his death.
The late Mr Srivaddhanaprabha’s company, King Power, earned more than £2.5 billion a year in revenue, according to his family’s lawyers. The lawsuit claims “the success was driven by Khun Vichai’s vision, drive, relationships, entrepreneurship, ingenuity and reputation.”
“All that was lost with his death,” he adds.
The fatal accident took place shortly after the helicopter took off from Leicester’s ground following a 1-1 draw against West Ham on October 27, 2018.
The plane landed on a concrete step and four of the five occupants survived the initial impact, but all then died in the fuel fire that engulfed the helicopter within a minute.
Thousands of tributes were left above ground following the tragedy. Photo: James Wilson/Sportimage
The other victims were two of Mr. Srivaddhanaprabha’s staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and Mr. Swaffer’s girlfriend, Izabela Roza Lechowicz, a fellow pilot.
Investigators found the pilot’s pedals became disconnected from the tail rotor, causing the plane to make an “uncontrollable” sharp right turn, before the helicopter spun around five times.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch described this as “a catastrophic failure” and concluded that the pilot could not have prevented the accident.
The lawsuit alleges that the accident was the result of “multiple failures” in Leonardo’s design process. It also alleges that the manufacturer failed to warn customers or regulators of the risk.
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In a statement, the helicopter manufacturer said: “Leonardo has the deepest sympathy for those who lost their lives in the accident, all clearly loved by their families, friends and communities. Their deaths were an undeniable tragedy.
“Leonardo is aware of the claim filed by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s family in the High Court of England and is reviewing it with his legal advisors and insurers. Leonardo intends to defend this claim.
The company added: “Leonardo notes that the AAIB’s final report, published in September 2023, did not address any recommended actions to Leonardo. The AAIB report concludes that Leonardo complied with all regulatory requirements in both the design and manufacture of the AW169.
“Leonardo meets the most modern and strict certification and safety standards in the industry. »