Leicester City helicopter crash inquest jury retires

The jury has retired to begin deliberations into the death of a man killed in a helicopter crash outside Leicester City's King Power Stadium.

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

Coroner Catherine Mason addressed the jury on Monday as the inquest entered its third week at Leicester City Hall.

Professor Mason branded the crash a “terrible tragedy” as she instructed the jury to reach only unexpected conclusions.

She said: “The helicopter crash was a horrific tragedy which claimed the lives of five people.

“These were exceptional people who were greatly loved and will be sorely missed.

“This hearing is about explaining to the world how they died.”

She told the 11 jurors they would answer four questions. Who is each deceased person? When did they die? Where did they die? And, how did they die?

She added: “This should not include issues such as systems, processes and precautions that may lead to helicopter and bearing design.”

The coroner explained that the identity of the deceased and the medical cause of death were not in dispute.

Pathologist Dr. Michael Biggs conducted post-mortem examinations on the five people who died. previously told inquest Ms Lechowicz died from injuries suffered as a result of the impact of the crash.

He added that the four other people on board would have suffered from smoke inhalation “quite quickly” as a fire broke out after the helicopter crashed outside the stadium, where the Foxes beat West Ham United 1-1.

Professor Mason also directed the jury to conclude that where, when and how the five people died could not legally challenge the Air Accident Investigation Branch's (AAIB) findings.

AAIB report, Published in September 2023found that the sequence of mechanical failures was “inevitable” shortly after takeoff from the center circle after the set-up movement in which the bearing failed.

The report made it clear the pilot was “not wrong” and tried to save everyone on board, the jury was told.

The court heard Mr Swaffer's actions reduced the helicopter's rotation speed while he tried to “cushion” its impact in the troubling conditions, but “a crash landing was unavoidable”.