Billion Dollar Helicopter Tragedy Family Seeks Justice In Record Breaking Lawsuit

The family of former Leicester soccer club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has filed a record-breaking $2.6 billion fatal accident claim in the English High Court following his tragic death in a helicopter crash in 2018.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was a Thai billionaire and businessman who made his fortune in the duty-free shopping industry. He was the founder of King Power International, a company that operated duty-free shops in several countries, including Thailand, where it is one of the largest operators.

Srivaddhanaprabha purchased Leicester City Football Club in 2010 and was widely credited with helping the team achieve a historic Premier League title win in 2016. The club, which was considered a huge underdog at the start of the season, defied 5000-1 odds to become champions, with Srivaddhanaprabha's ownership and investment playing a significant role in the team's success.

On October 27, 2018, Srivaddhanaprabha was attending a Leicester City match at the King Power Stadium when he boarded his helicopter to leave the stadium. The helicopter, an AgustaWestland AW169, took off from the center circle of the stadium but crashed in a car park outside the stadium just a few minutes later.

All five people on board the helicopter, including Srivaddhanaprabha, were killed in the crash. An investigation into the accident found that a mechanical fault had caused the helicopter's tail rotor to fail, leading to a loss of control and the subsequent crash.

The High Court claim, which is the largest fatal accident claim in English history, has been brought against the helicopter's manufacturers and maintenance companies. The claim is seeking damages for the loss of life and the financial impact on Srivaddhanaprabha's family and businesses.

The claim is expected to be contested by the defendants, and the case is likely to be complex and lengthy. However, the family of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha hopes that the claim will bring some measure of justice and closure following his tragic death.

The incident has also raised questions about the safety of helicopters and the need for more stringent maintenance and inspection procedures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

In the meantime, the football community and fans of Leicester City Football Club continue to remember and honor the memory of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who was widely respected and admired for his kindness, generosity, and dedication to the sport.