The family of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, former Leicester soccer club owner, filed a historic fatal accident claim in England following his death in a helicopter crash in 2018. The claim against Leonardo S.p.A., the AW169 helicopter manufacturer, is valued at £2.15 bn.
Vichai and four others died near King Power Stadium in October 2018. His son, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, expressed enduring grief, emphasizing the deep family loss and how it affects future generations.
The British Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) attributed the crash to a damaged tail rotor, ruling out pilot error. Aiyawatt criticized Leonardo, stating, “My father trusted Leonardo when purchasing the helicopter, but the investigation shows that trust was fatally misplaced. I hold them fully accountable.”
The claim seeks compensation for earnings loss and other damages. King Power, the company Vichai founded, reportedly generated over £2.5 bn annually, with net profits peaking at £237 mn in 2017.
Leonardo said it would defend the claim.
Leonardo has the deepest sympathy for those who lost their lives in the accident, all of them clearly loved by their families, friends and communities. Their deaths were an unquestionable tragedy
“Leonardo is aware of the claim which has been issued by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s family in the English High Court and is considering this with its legal advisers and insurers. Leonardo intends to defend this claim.
The AAIB report concluded that the AW169 helicopter reached 430 feet before spinning and crashing outside the stadium. A seized tail rotor duplex bearing caused the accident. Victims included club employees Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer, and his partner, Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
“Leonardo notes that the AAIB Final Report, released in September 2023, has not directed any Recommended Actions to Leonardo. The AAIB report concluded that Leonardo complied with all regulatory requirements in both the design and manufacture of the AW169. Leonardo meets the most modern and stringent certification and safety standards in the sector. Any further comment on the claim at this time would be premature.”
Peter Neenan, a partner at Stewarts law firm, described the AAIB report as highly critical despite its non-blame mission. The report served as the foundation for the claim, released in September 2023.
Leonardo expressed sympathy for the victims, stating it would defend the claim. The company noted the AAIB report directed no recommended actions toward Leonardo and confirmed compliance with all regulatory and safety standards in the AW169’s design and manufacturing. Further comments were deemed premature.
Cause of the Crash and Legal Proceedings
On 27 October 2018, a Leonardo AW169 helicopter carrying Leicester City Football Club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others crashed shortly after takeoff from the King Power Stadium in Leicester, England. All five occupants perished in the accident.
A helicopter carrying Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff, and two pilots crashed shortly after taking off from Leicester City’s King Power Stadium.
At 8:37 PM BST, as the helicopter turned toward its route, the tail rotor control linkage failed. This caused the helicopter to spin uncontrollably before crashing into the stadium’s Car Park E, approximately 200 meters from the stadium. The crash resulted in a fire, with witnesses describing the aircraft as falling “like a stone.”
Attempts to rescue the passengers by nearby police officers and club staff were unsuccessful due to intense heat and flames. These rescuers sustained heat injuries. Authorities ruled out any collision with a police drone as a potential cause.
The crash claimed the lives of all five on board. The victims included Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, staff members Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, British pilot Eric Swaffer, and his partner, Polish pilot Izabela Róża Lechowicz.
Investigations revealed that four passengers survived the crash but were unable to escape due to injuries and perished in the ensuing fire. A small memorial was later placed at East Sheen Cemetery for the pilots.
The UK’s AAIB determined that the crash resulted from a mechanical failure. Specifically, the tail rotor control linkage became disconnected, leading to a loss of yaw control. This failure caused the helicopter to spin uncontrollably before crashing. The AAIB ruled out pilot error as a contributing factor.
In January 2025, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s family filed a £2.15 bn lawsuit against Leonardo S.p.A., the helicopter’s manufacturer. The claim, the largest fatal accident claim in English history, seeks compensation for loss of earnings and other damages. The family alleges that Leonardo is responsible for the mechanical failures leading to the crash.
Leonardo has expressed sympathy for the victims but intends to defend against the claim, stating that the AAIB’s final report did not direct any recommended actions toward the company and concluded that Leonardo complied with all regulatory requirements in both the design and manufacture of the