‘I have no idea what’s going on’: Final moments of helicopter crash that killed Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha revealed as investigation finds four out of five passengers survived initial impact before aircraft was engulfed in inferno
The pilot of the helicopter involved in a crash which killed the owner of Leicester City Football Club said: ‘I’ve no idea what’s going on’ as the aircraft hurtled out of control, investigators have found.
The horrifying crash claimed the lives of Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, employees Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, Pilot Eric Swaffer, and his partner and fellow professional pilot Izabela Roza Lechowicz.
Four of the five on board survived the initial impact, but no-one made it out alive after the helicopter was engulfed by flames within a minute after a major fuel leak.
Hero pilot Swaffer, 53, made the chilling comment seconds before the helicopter smashed into the ground outside the club’s King Power Stadium on October 27 2018, a report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) revealed.
Shortly after taking off from the pitch, the Leonardo AW169 helicopter reached an altitude of approximately 430ft before plummeting to the ground, despite the best efforts of its highly-experienced pilot.
The Leonardo AW169 helicopter reached an altitude of approximately 430ft before plummeting to the ground. Pictured: The remains of the helicopter
Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (pictured), employees Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, Mr Swaffer and his partner, Izabela Roza Lechowicz were all killed
Kaveporn Punpare was an assistant to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and sadly perished in the doomed flight, alongside his colleague Nusara Suknamai, right, a former beauty queen who worked for the billionaire
Professional pilot Izabela Roza Lechowicz, 46, who was killed in the helicopter crash near Leicester City Football Club
