The son of Leicester City football club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha says his father “would never risk his life” if he knew the plane he died on was unsafe.
The Thai billionaire was killed in a horrific crash in October 2018, which claimed the lives of employees Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, as well as co-pilots Eric Swaffer and his girlfriend Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
Immediately after takeoff, the Leonardo AW169 helicopter reached an altitude of about 430 feet before crashing to the ground, despite the best efforts of the experienced pilot.
Four of the five people on board survived the initial impact, but none survived after the helicopter was engulfed in flames less than a minute after the crash caused a massive fuel leak.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has released its full report on the crash, raising serious concerns about the safety of the plane and the actions of its builder, Leonardo. Vichai Aiyawatt’s son Srivaddhanaprabha said:
“I am deeply saddened by the turn of events. Almost five years after my father’s death, this report provides disturbing evidence against Leonardo.
“My dad thought he had bought a safe helicopter from a world-renowned manufacturer. If he had known what we know today, he would never have risked his life with this machine.
