The family of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the former Leicester City owner who tragically died in a 2018 helicopter crash, has launched a £2.15 billion legal claim against the aircraft’s manufacturer, Leonardo S.p.A. The claim, announced Friday, alleges that design flaws caused the fatal accident, making the company liable for his death.
The Tragic Incident and Investigation Findings
Srivaddhanaprabha and four others lost their lives when his helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from Leicester City’s King Power Stadium in October 2018.
A report from the UK’s Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) attributed the crash to the failure of a critical component in the helicopter’s tail rotor. The failure triggered an uncontrollable spin, leading to the crash and subsequent fire. The AAIB concluded that the design flaws left the pilot powerless to prevent the accident.
Portland, the London-based public relations firm representing the family, stated:
“The crash was caused by the seizure of a key component located in the tail rotor… identified during the design phase as critical, and its failure catastrophic.”
Family’s Allegations and Legal Action
The legal claim, filed at London’s High Court, seeks compensation for:
- Loss of earnings due to Srivaddhanaprabha’s death.
- Pain and suffering endured by Srivaddhanaprabha before the crash.
- Funeral expenses.
The lawsuit alleges “multiple failures in Leonardo’s design process,” which the family believes directly caused the accident.
Impact on the Srivaddhanaprabha Family
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was a prominent Thai billionaire and chairman of King Power, a travel retail giant generating over £2.5 billion in annual revenue. His death profoundly affected his family, with his son and successor, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, expressing their continued grief:
“That my own children and their cousins will never know their grandfather compounds our suffering,” Aiyawatt said.
He also criticized Leonardo’s role in the tragedy:
“My father trusted Leonardo when he bought that helicopter, but the conclusions of the report into his death show that his trust was fatally misplaced. I hold them wholly responsible for his death.”
The legal action underscores the family’s determination to hold Leonardo accountable while highlighting the devastating personal and financial impact of Srivaddhanaprabha’s untimely death.
The case now proceeds through the UK courts, where it will likely examine the AAIB’s findings and Leonardo’s design and safety processes in detail.
