Son says Leicester owner ‘trusts in safety’ of crashed helicopter
Neil Lancefield, Pennsylvania traffic reporter
September 6, 2023 13:54
According to his son, Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2018, would “never risk his life in this machine” if he knew the procedures. Safety is not applied in place.
Vichai and four others were killed when the Leonardo AW169 crashed outside the club’s King Power Stadium on October 27, 2018, shortly after taking off.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report said the crash was caused by the pilot’s pedals disconnecting from the tail rotor when one component – the bearing – became stuck in the middle of the collision, due to accumulating pressure.
Investigators listed a range of contributing factors, such as the failure of Italian company Leonardo to share test flight results with the bearing manufacturer to confirm the selected type is suitable for use on the machine. fly.
Leonardo also did not require routine inspections of bearings to confirm they were in the condition expected against their original design.
The AAIB stressed that Leonardo did not need to take either of those actions under “regulatory requirements and guidance”.
Mr Vichai’s son, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, who became Leicester chairman after his father’s death, said: “I am deeply saddened by the course of events.
“Almost five years after my father’s passing, this report provides concerning evidence against Leonardo.
“My father trusted that he had bought a safe helicopter from a world-renowned manufacturer.
“He would never have endangered his life in this machine if he had known what we know now.
“The suffering this causes me and my family is unbearable, and as a family, we still battle daily with our grief over my father’s passing.
“We all adored him very much, and he was a great inspiration to me personally.”
A representative for Leonardo stated: “The AAIB has not suggested any actions to Leonardo.
The AAIB final report correctly states that Leonardo adhered to all legal requirements when creating the AW169, both in terms of design and production.
Others killed in the crash were Leicester workers Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz, also a professional pilot.
The 209-page AAIB report ruled out a possible cause of pilot error.
Law firm Stewarts said it was kept by the family of Mr Vichai, Mr Swaffer and Ms Lechowicz.
The statement added that Vichai’s family “plans to sue Leonardo” and that “a lawsuit has been started in Italy” on behalf of the Swaffer and Lechowicz families.
Peter Neenan, a partner at Stewarts, described the report as “a macabre tale of missed opportunities” and insisted the crash was “an imminent accident”.
Mr. Swaffer’s mother, Deborah Sutton, said:
“Of course, it’s every mother’s worst nightmare and time doesn’t heal.
“Eric and Izabela are an inseparable couple, devoted to each other and to their flight.
“Without them, our lives would have been a huge void. I think about them every day and miss them more than I can say.
Lechowicz’s sister, Kate Lechowicz, said:
“My sister and Eric are bright lights in my life, we have shared many adventures, but they have so many plans and dreams to fulfill.
“The outreach efforts of friends in the airline industry show how respected they are, but the response shows that they are also loved. “Recently, after purchasing their dream home, they are starting a new chapter in their lives – and spending more time on animal welfare and other causes they are passionate about.
In a statement released Wednesday morning, Foxes General Manager Susan Whelan said:
“We appreciate the thorough and detailed work carried out by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and welcome the release of the report in the hope that it will make a positive contribution to the continued development of the aviation industry. future aviation safety and standards.
“The tragic events of October 27, 2018 will forever be etched in the memory of the Leicester City family. It was a night in which we experienced the traumatic loss of our beloved President, our friends, colleagues and family members.
“In our grief, however, a sense of solidarity and strength was forged. The special support and kindness shown to those affected, by the community in Leicestershire, football and around the world, will never be forgotten. “As we approach the 5th anniversary of the accident, the family and loved ones of Khun Vichai, Kaveporn, Nusara, Eric and Izabela will always be in our thoughts, as well as those who lost them in our hearts. we.”
