- Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died in a helicopter crash in 2018
- His family has now filed a claim for damages against the manufacturers
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The owners of Leicester City have taken an Italian helicopter manufacturer to court in a multi-billion pound lawsuit following the crash that killed club patriarch Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in October 2018.
The helicopter, built by Leonardo SpA, crashed outside the King Power Stadium, killing five people, including Vichai.
Just over six years later, Leicester’s Thai billionaire owners brought the largest fatal accident compensation claim in English legal history worth £2.15 billion against Leonardo in the High Court.
The claim seeks loss of income and other damages, with his son and current Foxes chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha also highlighting his family’s grief following the tragic crash.
In September 2023, an Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) report was published after a thorough analysis of what went wrong when the helicopter crashed.
The report concluded that the pilot failed to avoid the crash after a tail rotor failure.
Leicester has taken an Italian helicopter manufacturer to the High Court
This follows the crash of one of their helicopters outside the King Power Stadium in October 2018
Former Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died in the helicopter crash in 2018
However, it said there were concerns about the plane’s safety, and the legal action said Leonardo could have made significant changes that could have prevented the fatal crash.
Vichai bought Leicester in 2010 and was in charge when the Midlands club achieved the unthinkable by winning the Premier League in 2016.
But just two years later, after a league match between Leicester and West Ham, a Leonardo helicopter carrying Vichai, three other passengers and the pilot crashed shortly after take-off.
The helicopter caught fire after the crash and emergency services were called to rescue the occupants.
However, they were unable to save any of the five people in the helicopter.
Leicester players and fans paid their respects to Vichai after the tragic incident, leaving flowers and messages outside the club’s home ground.
A wreath was also laid in the center circle of the King Power Stadium as the players and staff had a moment of reflection to honor Vichai shortly after his death.
Club legends Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel were left in tears as they hugged the Srivaddhanaprabha family on an emotional day for everyone associated with the Foxes.