An inquest into the helicopter crash that killed five people outside of the King Power Stadium in Leicester City in 2018 has started. The victims of the crash were Foxes chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, pilot Eric Swaffer, his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz and passengers Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai. Their deaths will be investigated by a jury over the course of the next two to three weeks. The purpose of the inquest is to determine who the victims were, as well as the details of where, when, and how they died.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was remembered in court with a pen portrait from his family, read by family barrister Philip Shepherd KC. They described him as an entrepreneurial leader with boundless energy who was a caring husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. His family feels his loss as much now as they did when he died, saying that he was a good man with a good heart, adored by everyone for his kind spirit, generosity, charm, sense of humor and intellect. The video ends with a tribute to his role in reviving Leicester City’s fortunes and the club’s Premier League title win in 2016.
The court also heard the story of pilot Eric Swaffer, read by his partner’s sister, who lovingly described him as someone with a profound love for aviation, technology, travel, and life in general. The court was told that Eric excelled at everything he tried his hand at, and was great company with a wicked sense of humor. Also, Nusara Suknamai, described as a ‘pillar’ of her family, and Kaveporn Punpare, who had a young daughter, were remembered with loving words from their families. The loss of both individuals was significant, and they will be missed by their loved ones every day.
An investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) conducted in September 2023 found that the crash was “inevitable” due to mechanical failures, and that the pilot could have done “very little” to save everyone on board. The memorial service for the pilot and the co-pilot was attended by about 1,000 people from across the world in 2018 in Guildford Cathedral, a testament to the love and adoration they received in life
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