The family of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the former Leicester City owner who perished in a 2018 helicopter crash, has initiated a legal case against Italian manufacturer Leonardo SpA, seeking £2.15 billion (€2.56bn) in compensation. The lawsuit, which is being heard in a London court, is the largest fatal accident claim in UK history, according to the family’s statement issued on Friday. They are seeking damages for loss of earnings, as well as other compensatory claims.
The crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff outside Leicester City’s King Power Stadium following a Premier League match, tragically claimed the lives of Srivaddhanaprabha, pilot Eric Swaffer, his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz, and two Leicester City staff members—Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare. Srivaddhanaprabha, who bought Leicester City in 2010, led the club to a historic Premier League title in 2016. The club remains under the family’s ownership, with Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha currently serving as chairman.
In a 2023 report, the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) determined that the pilot of the Leonardo AW169 helicopter could not have recovered from a tail rotor failure. Leonardo responded, stating that the AW169 remained safe for flight and that the AAIB’s findings confirmed the helicopter met all necessary regulatory requirements in terms of design and manufacturing.
An inquest into the tragic incident will start at Leicester Coroner’s Court on Monday.
