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2018 Leicester helicopter crash

Coordinates: 52°37′07″N 1°08′27″W / 52.61861°N 1.14083°W / 52.61861; -1.14083
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King Power Stadium Helicopter Crash
Photograph of the helicopter involved
The aircraft involved, photographed in August 2016
Accident
Date27 October 2018 (2018-10-27)
SummaryUnder investigation
SiteKing Power Stadium, Leicester, United Kingdom
52°37′07″N 1°08′27″W / 52.61861°N 1.14083°W / 52.61861; -1.14083
Grid reference SK 583 028
Aircraft
Aircraft typeAgustaWestland AW169
OperatorFoxborough Limited
RegistrationG-VSKP
Flight originKing Power Stadium, Leicester
DestinationLondon Luton[1]
Occupants5
Passengers4
Crew1
Fatalities5 (all)
Survivors0

On 27 October 2018, an AgustaWestland AW169 helicopter crashed shortly after take-off from the King Power Stadium, the home ground of Leicester City in Leicester, United Kingdom. Five people were on board, including club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha,[2] the other four were three passengers and a pilot. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is currently leading an investigation into the accident. It was confirmed that nobody onboard the aircraft survived but also that there were no ground casualties.[3][4][5]

Accident

Flight summary

The aircraft originally took Vichai to the King Power Stadium to attend the Premier League game against West Ham United, departing from Ottershaw, Surrey, at 14:43 BST (13:43 UTC) and arriving at the stadium at 15:58 BST (14:58 UTC).[6] Following the end of the game, which finished 1–1,[7] as was usual, the helicopter landed in the middle of the stadium's pitch to collect Vichai.[8] The helicopter was seen lifting off from the pitch live on BT Sport, who had been covering the game, and were in the midst of the post-match broadcast.[9] By this point, the coach carrying the West Ham United team had departed,[10] but some Leicester City staff and players were still in the stadium, while there remained fans of both clubs in areas outside.[11]

The crash

The aircraft, of which owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was amongst the five people on board,[12] crashed at 20:30 BST (19:30 UTC) and caught fire shortly after taking off from the King Power Stadium. Witnesses attempted to rescue those in the helicopter but were unable to, due to the heat and flames. A witness claimed that the failure of the helicopter's tail rotor was the cause of the accident,[10] with another witness stating the aircraft fell "like a stone to the floor".[13] The aircraft was bound for Luton Airport.[14] It crashed 200 metres (220 yd) from the stadium, in stadium Car Park E. All on board were killed in the crash and subsequent fire.[15][16][17] This was the first crash involving the AW169.[18]

Fatalities

All five occupants of the flight died.[19]

  • Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Leicester City chairman
  • Nursara Suknamai, staff member of Srivaddhanaprabha
  • Kaveporn Punpare, staff member of Srivaddhanaprabha
  • Eric Swaffer, pilot
  • Izabela Róża Lechowicz, passenger and Swaffer's partner[20]

Aircraft

The aircraft involved in the accident was an AgustaWestland AW169 helicopter, registration G-VSKP,[10] c/n 69018, manufactured in 2016.[21] It seated 10 people and weighed roughly 4,500 kilograms (9,900 lb).[22] It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210A engines.[23]

Investigation

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch opened an investigation into the accident.[10]

Responses

The FA Women's Championship match between Leicester City and Manchester United, scheduled for the day after the crash, was postponed out of respect for the club.[24] The ladies reserve league match against Derby County was also postponed.[25] Leicester City's EFL Cup fixture against Southampton, which had been scheduled to take place at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday 30 October, and the Premier League International Cup fixture between Leicester City U-23s and Feyenoord Academy, were also subsequently postponed.[26]

Fans began to lay flowers and football shirts outside the ground the next morning. Shirts and scarfs were also seen from other teams including West Ham United who Leicester City were playing prior to the crash.[27] At the other UK football fixtures on Sunday, players wore black armbands, both for the crash victims and for Remembrance Day, though a few days earlier than Remembrance armbands are usually worn.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/oct/27/leicester-city-owners-helicopter-crash-car-park
  2. ^ "LIVE: Leicester City owner confirmed dead in helicopter crash".
  3. ^ "Club Statement: Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha". Leicester City F.C. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Leicester City confirm chairman's death". 28 October 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. ^ Steinberg, Jacob (28 October 2018). "Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha confirmed dead in helicopter crash". the Guardian.
  6. ^ LLC, Airnav Systems. "AirNav RadarBox – Live Flight Tracker and Airport Status". AirNav Radarbox.
  7. ^ Davis, Matt (27 October 2018). "Leicester City 1-1 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Leicester City helicopter crash: Foxes owner's aircraft bursts into flames outside King Power Stadium". Daily Mirror. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Leicester City helicopter crash: Moment shaken BT Sport host Jake Humphrey breaks news of disaster live on air". Daily Mirror. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  10. ^ a b c d "Leicester City owner's helicopter crashes leaving stadium". BBC News Online. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  11. ^ Cullen, Ellie; Steelyard, Linda. "'Horrific scenes': Reaction to Leicester City helicopter crash". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  12. ^ Hermesauto (28 October 2018). "Leicester City's Thai chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was on board helicopter that crashed: BBC". The Straits Times. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  13. ^ "Helicopter 'spiralled out of control'". BBC News. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  14. ^ Mann, Tanveer (27 October 2018). "Leicester City owner's helicopter crashes outside King Power Stadium after game". Metro. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  15. ^ "Club Statement: Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha". Leicester City F.C. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  16. ^ "Leicester City confirm chairman's death". 28 October 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  17. ^ "Leicester City owner's helicopter crashes outside club's King Power Stadium". Sky News. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  18. ^ Leonardo Helicopters [@AgustaWestland] (28 October 2018). "Leonardo Helicopters is ready to support the AAIB with their investigation to determine the cause of this accident. This is the first ever accident involving an AW169 helicopter" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "King Power Stadium incident". Leicestershire Police. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  20. ^ "Leicester helicopter crash victims named". BBC News. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  21. ^ "G-VSKP". Helis. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  22. ^ Martin, Dan (28 October 2018). "More about the £6.6m helicopter that crashed outside stadium".
  23. ^ "G-INFO search | Civil Aviation Authority". siteapps.caa.co.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  24. ^ "Leicester City helicopter crash – latest reaction". BBC Sport. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  25. ^ "Leicester City helicopter crash: What we know so far".
  26. ^ "Leicester vs Southampton postponed: Why has Carabao Cup tie been called off and when is the re-arranged date?". The Sun. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  27. ^ O'Grady, Sean (28 October 2018). "Leicester helicopter crash: Flowers and scarves left in tribute as fans react in shock". The Independent.
  28. ^ Fisher, Ben; Cook, Chris (28 October 2018). "Leicester City helicopter crash: owner believed to have been on board – latest updates". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
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