- Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died in a helicopter crash in 2018
- His family have now made a compensation claim against the manufacturers
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Leicester City’s owners have taken an Italian helicopter manufacturer to court in a multi-billion pound lawsuit following the crash that killed the club’s patriarch Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in October 2018.
The helicopter, which was built by Leonardo SpA, crashed outside the King Power Stadium, killing five people, including Vichai.
A little over six years on, Leicester’s Thai billionaire owners have launched the largest fatal accident compensation claim in English legal history worth £2.15bn against Leonardo at the High Court.
The claim seeks loss of earnings and other damages, with his son and current Foxes chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha also highlighting his family’s grief following the tragic crash.
An Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) report was published in September 2023 after a thorough analysis of what went wrong when the helicopter crashed.
The report concluded that the pilot was unable to prevent the crash following a tail rotor failure.
Leicester have taken an Italian helicopter manufacturer to the High Court
This follows one of their helicopter crashing outside the King Power Stadium in October 2018
Former Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died in the helicopter crash in 2018
However, it did state that there were safety concerns about the aircraft, and the legal action claims Leonardo could have made important modifications that could have stopped the fatal crash from taking place.
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, following 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 crashing and emergency services were called to try and rescue those on board.
However, they were unable to save any of the five people inside the helicopter.
Leicester’s players and fans paid their respects to Vichai after the tragic incident, with flowers and messages left outside the club’s home ground.
A wreath was also laid in the centre circle at the King Power Stadium as the players and staff had a moment of reflection to honour Vichai shortly after his death.
Club legends Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel were left in tears as they embraced the Srivaddhanaprabha family on an emotional day for all associated with the Foxes.
