Tributes flock to Leicester City helicopter crash as inquest opens

More than six years later, an inquest has opened and tributes have been paid to the five people who died in a helicopter crash outside Leicester City's King Power Stadium.

Fox Air chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died along with fellow passengers Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz October 27, 2018.

An inquest began at Leicester City Hall on Monday and is expected to last two to three weeks as the jury will determine who died and when, where and how he died.

In a pen portrait paying tribute to Mr Vichai, his family described him as a man of boundless energy and an instinctive entrepreneur.

Family lawyer Philip Shepherd KC read a eulogy in court, with relatives saying: “Khun Vichai was the leader of our family, a loving and devoted husband, father, uncle and grandfather.

“We feel his loss as deeply today as ever. He was a good man with a kind heart. He was a huge inspiration to us all and we all loved him very much.

“Khun Vichai was beyond words. He had all the best qualities. He was adored by everyone for his kind spirit, generosity, charm, sense of humor and intelligence.”

The pen-and-ink drawing ended with a video presentation on the court's big screen praising the 60-year-old for his role in reviving Leicester City's fortunes, including the club's adversity Won the Premier League title in 2016.

A second eulogy described Mr Swaffer, 53, as a man who loved aviation and had a “wicked sense of humour”.

The report was read to the jury by his partner, the sister of Ms Lechowicz, 46, a pilot who also died in the crash.

Of Mr. Swafer, Kate Lechowicz said: “He was a great person to have around. He had a deep love for aviation, technology, travel, motorcycles and life.

“There was nothing he didn't try. He excelled in everything he did.”

Recalling her siblings, Ms Lechowicz said her “warm, loving and hard-working” sister was an “extraordinary person”.

“She exuded a zest for life but above all she was a dedicated pilot,” Ms Lehovich added.

“She has extensive global flying experience. She is the type of person who gets things done with grace and efficiency.”

In 2018, around 1,000 people from around the world attended the couple's memorial service in Surrey.

The ceremony had to be moved from the couple's local church in Camberley to Guildford Cathedral to accommodate everyone.

Tributes were also paid to Kaveporn Punpare, 33, who had a young daughter and was one of several housekeepers employed by Mr Vichai.

A statement from his wife said he started out as an assistant housekeeper, accompanying his family on trips, but was promoted in 2015.

She said her husband will be loved and missed every day by his family.

Former Miss Thailand contestant Nusara Suknamai, 32, is described as the “backbone” of the family.

“This is the family's greatest loss. We will never forget it,” they said in a statement.

Leicester City director of football Jon Rudkin also gave evidence at the inquest on Monday afternoon.

He said he walked Mr Vichai to the helicopter that landed at the stadium on the night of the crash and that the chairman waved and gave him a thumbs-up as he left the plane.

Rudkin said he immediately tried to contact the chairman's son in Thailand after the accident.

He tearfully described the “extraordinary impression (the chairman) has left – not just on the football club but on the city”.

“He helped make an impossible dream come true,” Mr. Rudkin said. “That's Khun Vichai.”

Puchong Masayavanij, the club's assistant secretary, said Mr Vichai contacted him every day to check on staff.

He said: “He would fly in from Thailand to watch Leicester play.

“We all love working for him. Working for King Power and Leicester City makes me proud to be Thai.”

He told the inquest that on the day of the crash, he and Rudkin walked Vichai to the helicopter and back to the tunnel before the plane started spinning.

Mr Puchong said former goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel came to him and told him the helicopter had just crashed.

“I wasn't sure what was going on, so I just followed him, not knowing what to expect,” he added.

He said the pair ran around the perimeter of the stadium toward the crash site but were eventually stopped by police from getting any closer.

Video taken by a supporter from the side of the pitch was played to the inquest, showing the Leonardo AW169 helicopter taking off at 20:37 BST before spinning and disappearing from view behind the stands.

Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) Chief Inspector Mark Jarvis gave evidence at the inquest, initially to lay out the scene and provide basic facts.

He said the helicopter was manufactured in 2016 and received an airworthiness certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which does not require an audit for three years.

Mr Jarvis explained that damage from the accident punctured the tank and leaked.

Mr Jarvis added: “The fire broke out very quickly and gradually destroyed the entire helicopter.”

The jury was shown body-worn footage and CCTV of two police officers at the scene.

The inquest heard the two officers, who had just been released, happened to be driving nearby and arrived at the scene within a minute of the incident.

Mr Jarvis said that because the helicopter was parked on the left side, both side doors, one about 2.5m (8.2ft) from the ground and the other close to the floor, were inaccessible.

A police officer tried to use his baton to break the helicopter's windscreen, but Mr Jarvis explained that it would take specialized equipment to break the glass, which was designed to withstand a 1kg bird traveling at 180mph ( The impact of flying at a speed of 289 km/h). .

The jury was shown an animation showing how the helicopter's tail rotor works and is controlled using the pilot's pedals.

Mr Jarvis explained his conclusion about how the twin tail rotor bearings failed and caused the helicopter to go into an uncontrolled spin, showing the jury the mechanical elements with the help of another animation.

AAIB report, Published in September 2023After a series of mechanical failures, it found the crash was “inevitable” and said the pilots could have done “very little” to save everyone on board.

The investigation continues.