MANCHESTER, England — The relatives of the late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, former owner of Leicester City Football Club, have initiated the most substantial fatal accident lawsuit in the history of England, following his tragic death in a helicopter crash back in 2018, as confirmed by their representatives on Friday.
The legal claim presented in the High Court targets helicopter manufacturer Leonardo S.p.A. and is estimated at £2.15 billion (approximately $2.6 billion). Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died along with four others when the helicopter went down near the King Power Stadium, home to the Premier League team, in October 2018.
In a poignant statement, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Vichai’s son and the current chairman of Leicester City, expressed the deep sense of loss felt by his family. “The absence of my father is as profound today as it was then,” he shared. “The reality that my children and their cousins will never have the chance to know their grandfather only amplifies our grief.”
An investigation conducted by the UK government’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) concluded that the fatal crash was due to a malfunction in the tail rotor, dispelling any notions of pilot error.
“My father relied on Leonardo when purchasing that helicopter, but the findings of the investigation highlight that his trust was tragically misplaced,” Aiyawatt stated, holding the company fully accountable for the loss. “I see them as entirely responsible for his untimely death.”
According to a press release issued on Friday, the lawsuit seeks damages for loss of income and other related hardships. The King Power company, founded by Vichai, was reported to be generating more than £2.5 billion in annual revenue, with net profits reaching their highest at £237 million ($289 million) in the year leading up to his passing.
The Leonardo AW169 helicopter took off from the center of the King Power Stadium following a Premier League match, climbing to approximately 430 feet (130 meters) before spinning and crashing into a concrete wall outside the venue. The inquiry indicated a failure in the tail rotor duplex bearing had occurred.
In addition to Vichai, the crash claimed the lives of club employees Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, as well as pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
Peter Neenan, a partner at the law firm representing the Srivaddhanaprabha family, remarked that the foundation of the lawsuit is grounded in the AAIB report released in September 2023. He noted, “While the AAIB’s purpose is primarily to focus on safety rather than to assign blame, its findings were among the most damning I have encountered.”
In response, Leonardo stated its intent to contest the claim. The company expressed its condolences towards the families affected by the tragedy, acknowledging the profound losses experienced. “Leonardo understands the legal action taken by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s family in the English High Court and is reviewing it with legal advisors and insurers,” the company stated. “Leonardo intends to defend this claim rigorously.”
The company emphasized that the AAIB report did not recommend any actions against them and noted that they adhered to all safety standards in the design and manufacturing of the AW169 helicopter. With adherence to the strictest safety regulations, Leonardo maintains it meets the highest certification benchmarks within the industry, and any additional commentary regarding the claim at this juncture would be premature.
