helicopter crash inquest

[davieG]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/leicester-city-helicopter-crash-vichai-34472584

 

Leicester owner's tragic last gesture seconds before helicopter crash
Former Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, was among five people tragically killed in a helicopter crash following a Foxes fixture in October 2018

ByMartin FrickerSenior Reporter
16:55, 13 Jan 2025Updated16:57, 13 Jan 2025

Leicester City’s tragic Thai owner waved and gave a thumbs up to club staff seconds before he died in a helicopter crash, an inquest heard.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, died alongside pilots Eric Swaffer, 53, and Izabela Roza Lechowicz, 46, in October 2018. The billionaire tycoon’s personal butler Kaveporn Punpare, 33, and assistant Nusara Suknamai, 32, also died in the tragedy.

They were killed when the helicopter spun out of control and burst into flames between two car parks at the King Power Stadium. It had taken off seconds earlier to take Mr Srivaddhanaprabha and his staff to London after the match against West Ham.

Inquests into the five deaths began in Leicester - more than six years after the tragedy. Leicester City’s director of football Jonathan Rudkin broke down in tears as he gave evidence to the hearing.

He told the inquest how he sat alongside Vichai during the game and later met him in his office after the match. Mr Rudkin said the club chairman checked on the condition of a player who had suffered a serious injury.

He later walked him across the pitch to board the helicopter - before watching in horror as the aircraft crashed. Mr Rudkin said: “The chairman was the last one to get in. I walked back to pitch side and stood and waited for his departure

“It seemed like two or three minutes, then the rotors got started. The chairman always waved and raised his thumb. The helicopter seemed to hold its position, then made a turn. That evening it just continued to turn and then went into a spin.

“As soon as it went on that first full circle I just thought, ‘This is strange’. I realised something was seriously wrong. It was a really fast rotation, then it started to nose-dive away from the stadium, still rotating in the air.

“I started to react, thinking ‘this unfortunately looks like it’s going to be crashing’. I turned and started to run back down the tunnel. I saw stewards and medic people, I was shouting to get a message that we need medics urgently round the back of the stadium.

“I rang through the opposite end of the tunnel and jumped straight into my car. I proceeded to the back of the stadium. I could see the helicopter had landed in the distance and there were flames.

“All I could see as I got closer was the flames from the helicopter. Then some police stopped me and said I could not advance any further due to safety. They were in fear of further explosions

“I asked if they had managed to pull people out of the helicopter, but at that stage you certainly got the feeling that sadly nobody had got out.”

 

Mr Rudkin broke down as he paid tribute to Vichai. “He made a remarkable impression not only on the football club but also the city,” he said. “He helped achieve the impossible dream.

“Once we heard that the chairman hadn’t survived the accident everyone was in complete shock, right across the football club. He made such a huge impact on football and the community.

“People came from far and wide to the football club to pay their respects. I can’t imagine what it was like for the family.”

Jurors were shown the body-cam footage of hero Leicestershire Police officer Sgt Michael Hooper, one of the first on the scene. He was driving in his patrol car with another colleague when the chopper plunged from the sky metres away from them.

The body-cam and dash-cam footage showed him desperately trying to break the cockpit windscreen to rescue the victims. But the hearing at Leicester city hall was told the glass was designed to withstand an 180mph bird strike and could not be smashed.

Further footage showed the police sergeant racing back to his vehicle to fetch a fire extinguisher to battle the flames. But tragically the five victims could not be saved and died as the blazing helicopter turned into a fireball.

An Air Accidents Investigation Branch report published in September 2023 said a tail rotor system failure was to blame for the crash. Senior coroner Prof Catherine Mason described the horrific crash as a “tragic, well-known accident”.

Mark Jarvis, AAIB principal inspector, talked jurors at Leicester city hall through the doomed flight. The helicopter initially left Fairoaks Airport in Surrey before heading to Battersea Heliport to collect Vichai and his staff.

CCTV images were shown in the inquest of the aircraft later landing at Leicester City’s former training ground. After the match Eric and Izabela flew the helicopter from the training ground and landed on the stadium pitch.

 

Asked if that was usual, Mr Jarvis said: “It was, and there was an approved procedure for doing that.” CCTV images showed Vichai, Kaveporn and Nusara leaving the tunnel area and walking onto the pitch to board the helicopter.

The helicopter was due to fly to Stansted Airport so Vichai could catch a private jet to Thailand. Video footage recorded by a supporter was aired showing the aircraft taking off from the pitch.

It then made a right turn and went into a spin before plunging out of view into an open area between two car parks. Bystanders inside the stadium could be heard on the video uttering “s**t, s**t” as the helicopter went into a spin.

Mr Jarvis said it struck a concrete and brick step at 8.37pm before landing on its belly and coming to a rest on its left hand side. The impact punctured the fuel tank, causing a significant fuel leak.

Mr Jarvis told the hearing: “A fire started very rapidly and consumed the whole helicopter.” He said Sgt Hooper’s desperate attempts to put out the fire with his extinguisher were futile.

“It would have been an extreme fire,” said the expert. The extinguisher would not have been able to do anything. The heat would have been intense.”

Two fire engines arrived at the scene less than six minutes after the crash. The blaze was extinguished six minutes later. The three-week jury inquest began by hearing ‘pen portrait’ tributes to the five victims.

Philip Shepherd, counsel on behalf of Vichai, read out a tribute to the billionaire from his family.

“He was the leader of our family, a caring and devoted husband. A caring father, uncle and grandfather,” read the statement. “We feel the loss of him as much as we have ever done.

“He was a good man with a good heart. He was a great inspiration to us all and we all love him very much. It’s impossible to put him into words. He possessed all of the best qualities.

“He was adored for his kind spirit, generosity, charm, sense of humour and intellect. The fact that his grandchildren will never know him compounds our suffering every day

“His first granddaughter, Love, was born one month before his death. In that short time he showed her unconditional love. On his last trip to England he went shopping for gifts for her. He would have done anything and everything for her.

“Before he died he told his daughter he would work until Love was 20 years old. His plan was to stay healthy and ensure their future and financial legacy

“He was a family man, he took care of all of us. He was a man with boundless energy. Innovation and entrepreneurial were instinctive to him.”

[davieG]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14276335/Leicester-City-helicopter-crash-inquest-tragedy-chairman.html

 

Leicester City helicopter crash inquest begins as police officers' desperate act to try and save victims is revealed - after five people including club chairman died in 2018 tragedy
A report in 2023 found that the crash was 'ineavitable' due to safety failings
The former chairman's family have launched a £2.15bn compensation claim
 

Published: 17:00, 13 January 2025 | Updated: 17:00, 13 January 2025

The inquest into Leicester City's tragic 2018 helicopter crash heard on Monday how police officers tried desperately to break the vehicle's windscreen after it came down. 

Five people including the club's chairman Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, were killed in the accident which saw the helicopter engulfed in flames after crashing.

The aircraft had spun out of control just seconds after taking off from Leicester' King Power Stadium, violently tailspinning into wasteland near the ground before being engulfed in flames. 

Last week the club's billionaire Thai owners launched a legal battle with the helicopter's manufacturer, an Italian company called Leonardo SpA, seeking £2.15billion in compensation. It is the largest fatal accident compensation claim in English legal history. 

A report in September 2023 found that there were safety concerns regarding the aircraft, that Leonardo could have made important modifications to prevent the crash, and that the the pilot was unable to prevent the crash following a tail rotor failure. It found the crash to be 'inveitable' and said the pilot could have done 'very little' to stop it. 

At Monday's inquest, jurors were shown footage of two police officers, who had been driving nearby, arriving at the scene within a minute of the crash.

The inquest into the helicopter crash which killed Leicester chairman Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others in 2018 has begun
 

The inquest heard how police officers tried to break the windscreen of the aircraft after it came down (pictured: pilots Eric Swaffer and Izabela Roza Lechowicz)


The helicopter had come to rest on its left-hand side and neither of the doors could be accessed. 

 

Thus, one of the officers used a baton to try and break the windshield to see if they could help.

However, the coroner was told Catherine Mason was told that the windshield was a 'very strong structure' designed to withstand crashing into a bird at 180mph.

In a statement released ahead of the inquests, Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, the son of Khun Vichai, who succeeded his father as Chairman of Leicester City, said: 'My family embraces the inquest process and look forward to the explanation into how and why my father lost his life, and what has been done to ensure that other families will not suffer the same terrible pain of loss that has been inflicted on us.'

Kate Lechowicz, the sister of Izabela Lechowicz, added on behalf of the Lechowicz and Swaffer families: 'Waiting for the inquest has been tormenting, leaving many unanswered questions and frustrations lingering for over 6 years since the tragic loss of our Eric and Izabela.

'Aviation safety was close to their hearts, they will be avidly watching this from afar keen to see changes that will prevent such disasters in the future. Our children will never get to know their aunt and uncle, the adventures they had, except through the pictures we have in our home and the stories we tell from our memories. We still miss them terribly.'

The pen portrait of Mr Srivaddhanaprabha continued: 'His positive energy was contagious and he maintained that through hard work and discipline. He was always two steps of everyone else.

'Khun Vichai was a man of honour. Those who worked with him and signed a contract with him got his word….He made sure he signed all his staff's birthday cards.

'He always mentioned to us the importance of his staff. He showed no signs of slowing down.

Fellow passengers Nusara Suknamai (right) and Kaveporn Punpare (left) died in the crash

The helicopter, which was deemed to have had safety concerns in 2013, set on fire after falling

The helicopter, which was deemed to have had safety concerns in 2013, set on fire after falling

A report in 2023 deemed that the crash had been 'inevitable' due to safety failings

A report in 2023 deemed that the crash had been 'inevitable' due to safety failings 

Extensive tributes were laid outside the King Power Stadium in the wake of the tragedy

Extensive tributes were laid outside the King Power Stadium in the wake of the tragedy

'In 2004 he established the King Power Foundation which supports adults with mental health problems and disadvantaged children.

'He also established Leicester City's Foxes Foundation which aims to support local and national causes. Since it's formation in 2011-12 the foundation has raised almost £2m for local charities.'

In the 2023 report, a haunting cry from the pilot, Eric Swaffer, 53, was revealed from when the helicopter was spinning out of control. 

'I've no idea what's going on,' he had cried. 

Under Srivaddhanaprabha's ownership after he bought them in 2010, Leicester City were promoted to the Premier League in 2014, stayed up in 2015, and won the title against 5,000-1 odds in 2016. 

He, pilot Swaffer, his employees Nusara Suknamai, 32, and Kaveporn Punpare, 33, and Swaffer's partner and professional pilot, Izabela Roza Lechowicz, 46, all died. 

The inquest, which is expected to last three weeks, will examine the mechanical cause of the crash. 

 

[Wymsey]

The pilot was still alive when it went down..

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3w52zk39ro

 

[CrazyKopCorner]

I'm not sure if I'm becoming a melt but I've found it harrowing to hear the evidence so far. 

 

Apparently John Rudkin was upset when he gave evidence yesterday which, to me. shows there's probably a pretty decent bloke in there.

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

20 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

I'm not sure if I'm becoming a melt but I've found it harrowing to hear the evidence so far. 

 

Apparently John Rudkin was upset when he gave evidence yesterday which, to me. shows there's probably a pretty decent bloke in there.

He has probably struggled without the guidance and steer from Vichai, but all the more reason for the structures to be put in place that a lot of us are calling for.

 

I don’t want to appear to be heartless, but Rudkin’s role in this is probably why he’s bulletproof. He’ll be seen as a KP loyalist and Top probably sees him as a link to his father.

 

Tough reading all these years on. Who knows how different things would be now if Vichai hadn’t died.

[dannythefox]

34 minutes ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

I'm not sure if I'm becoming a melt but I've found it harrowing to hear the evidence so far. 

 

Apparently John Rudkin was upset when he gave evidence yesterday which, to me. shows there's probably a pretty decent bloke in there.

I’m sure he is a decent bloke but he’s not very good at his job.

[LFEFox23]

37 minutes ago, Wasyls Pec Deck said:

He has probably struggled without the guidance and steer from Vichai, but all the more reason for the structures to be put in place that a lot of us are calling for.

 

I don’t want to appear to be heartless, but Rudkin’s role in this is probably why he’s bulletproof. He’ll be seen as a KP loyalist and Top probably sees him as a link to his father.

 

Tough reading all these years on. Who knows how different things would be now if Vichai hadn’t died.

Which is fine, so move him into a role at King Power!

[Tommy G]

5 hours ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

I'm not sure if I'm becoming a melt but I've found it harrowing to hear the evidence so far. 

 

Apparently John Rudkin was upset when he gave evidence yesterday which, to me. shows there's probably a pretty decent bloke in there.

I know plenty of nice people that aren't very good at their job. Saying that, it was an emotional statement he gave, he just needs moving into a different role. 

Edited 15 January by Tommy G

[StanSP]

5 hours ago, CrazyKopCorner said:

I'm not sure if I'm becoming a melt but I've found it harrowing to hear the evidence so far. 

 

Apparently John Rudkin was upset when he gave evidence yesterday which, to me. shows there's probably a pretty decent bloke in there.

Not sure how that makes you a melt! 

 

Any fan, Leicester or not, reading the evidence would be mad and made of steel not to be affected in some way by it. 

 

I don't blame Rudkin being upset by it. He was one of the last to see Vichai alive, along with a few others at the stadium. He's bound to be upset and emotional having to pretty much relive it. 

 

 

[Raj]

I worked with the Sergeant who was first on scene and tried to  break the windscreen with his baton.

 

Cant even begin to  imagine what he must have went through at the time and how he must recollect it it in flashbacks.

 

 

[Gravel]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2jx7gqgx5o.amp

 

Declared an accident 

[Zear0]

6 minutes ago, Gravel said:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2jx7gqgx5o.amp

 

Declared an accident 

Was always likely to be outcome.  Not much comfort to those who's suffered, but hopefully they can make peace with what happened now the inquest has concluded.

[Vacamion]

 

Top standing in the background, welling up, whilst the lawyer reads out the statement is pretty hard to watch.

 

 

[moore_94]

 

[VLC86]

19 minutes ago, Vacamion said:

 

Top standing in the background, welling up, whilst the lawyer reads out the statement is pretty hard to watch.

 

 

I know things at the football club aren’t as we would like them but it puts into perspective what’s going on compared with what he’s been through and what put him in this situation. Hopefully that is remembered.

[ourla]

Hard to say it was accident given "can be traced back to fundamental design errors and the failure to mitigate known risks."

[StanSP]

4 minutes ago, ourla said:

Hard to say it was accident given "can be traced back to fundamental design errors and the failure to mitigate known risks."

That's what I don't understand either. 

[VLC86]

6 minutes ago, ourla said:

Hard to say it was accident given "can be traced back to fundamental design errors and the failure to mitigate known risks."

 

1 minute ago, StanSP said:

That's what I don't understand either. 

I have no idea on these things but is it within the parameters of the inquest to look at them sorts of factors or are they just looking to see whether factors on the day by the parties involved have impacted the events?

[slymunn]

5 minutes ago, ourla said:

Hard to say it was accident given "can be traced back to fundamental design errors and the failure to mitigate known risks."

I think they mean it was accidental in the sense that no one at the scene was at fault.

 

But the cause was the fundamental design errors and the failure to mitigate known risks of the helicopter company.

[st albans fox]

10 minutes ago, slymunn said:

I think they mean it was accidental in the sense that no one at the scene was at fault.

 

But the cause was the fundamental design errors and the failure to mitigate known risks of the helicopter company.

Hence the family suing the manufacturer 

[Mickyblueeyes]

13 minutes ago, StanSP said:

That's what I don't understand either. 

A coroner determines the cause of death. Essentially, despite issues with the mechanics of the helicopter, for all intent purposes, it was an accident. It was not caused willingly by someone else nor was the crash self inflicted. It was accident due to the mechanical issues. 

 

Not an easy hearing at all. Hopefully it gives the family peace and some closure. 

[Groby_Blue]

It was an accident, not a deliberate. Two cars can have an accident but it's usually one of the driver's fault. 

[slymunn]

15 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

Hence the family suing the manufacturer 

Exactly that. They have the blame here.

[Jazzy_Jeff]

So this backs up the families suit against the manufacturer?

 

It was an accident caused by the helicopter so that is where the blame goes? 

[Pliskin]

39 minutes ago, StanSP said:

That's what I don't understand either. 

Was this not the coroners inquest? 
 

If so, the coroners role is to come to a conclusion as to the nature of the death. In this case, an accident.

 

The family will now pursue a claim against the manufacturer it seems. 
 

Is my understanding.