Latest news with #VichaiSrivaddhanaprabha
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Action needed after Leicester City crash, says coroner
Urgent action must be taken to address concerns about helicopter rules after a crash killed five people near Leicester City's stadium, a coroner football club's chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, fellow passengers Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, pilot Eric Swaffer and Mr Swaffer's partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz all died in the crash on 27 October 2018.A prevention of future deaths report was sent to the European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after an inquest into the Prof Catherine Mason said current aviation rules may not adequately prevent crucial parts from wearing out prematurely and cause failures. Part makers may not receive all the detailed flight and system test data from manufacturers, so they cannot fully check if they are safe, the coroner Mason said concerns were raised about the lack of clear rules on how long some important helicopter parts should last and how they should be inspected, especially for aircraft already in coroner wrote of worries that helicopter makers are not currently required by regulations to thoroughly check critical parts after removal from service, which could help catch problems highlighted concerns raised during the inquest about the lack of clear rules for calculating stresses on key helicopter parts and the need for better standards to ensure ongoing report pointed to "failure modes analysis at a system level".The coroner wrote: "In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths, and I believe that each of EASA and the CAA have power to take such action."On October 27 2018, after a match between Leicester City and West Ham, the Leonardo AW169 helicopter spun out of control after it took off from the helicopter began to spin when Mr Swaffer tried to do a right-hand turn over the stadium to take Khun Vichai and the other passengers to Stansted Airport, an inquest jury previously Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report found that the helicopter began uncontrollably spinning when a bearing in the tail rotor "seized" after its lubrication broke down, jurors were aircraft landed on its left-hand side on a 1.6ft (0.5m) concrete step, causing a fuel leak which ignited and "rapidly" engulfed the helicopter in jury of 11 people, who heard evidence over two weeks, concluded that the deaths were of the five victims, including Khun Vichai, died due to smoke inhalation and it was likely they would have survived their injuries if the fire had not started, it was cause of Ms Lechowicz's death was given as "significant" head and chest injuries, and she would have died "extremely quickly" after the helicopter crashed into the ground.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Listen: The agony in Vardy's time at Leicester
Not every chapter of Jamie Vardy's story at Leicester City was a happy season after Premier League glory brought Champions League football to the King Power stadium. And it was on the way back from a European tie that title-winning boss Claudio Ranieri was episode four of BBC Radio Leicester's podcast series on the striker – Havin' a party: The Jamie Vardy story – co-host and former Foxes winger Marc Albrighton talks about the backlash that some of the Foxes' highest profile players dealt with tragedy of the helicopter crash at Leicester City's King Power stadium in 2018, that killed the club's chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four other people, is also part of this agonising chapter in the club's history.A spotlight is also put on the off-field controversy that the striker was dragged into in later years when his wife Rebekah was accused by Coleen Rooney, the wife of former England captain Wayne Rooney, of leaking private stories to a tabloid followed was to become known as the Wagatha Christie only added to Vardy becoming a target of abuse from rivals fans during matches, but Albrighton explained just how much his team-mate enjoyed coming up with "the final say" with a goal and passionate episode concludes with Leicester lifting the FA Cup for the first time in their history in 2021 – which was yet another cherished chapter in the Foxes story that Vardy helped write.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Coroner says urgent action needed on helicopter rules after Leicester City crash
Urgent action must be taken to address concerns about helicopter rules after a crash which killed five people near Leicester City's stadium, a coroner said. The football club's former owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, referred to as Khun Vichai, was killed with the helicopter's pilot Eric Swaffer, his partner and co-pilot Izabela Lechowicz, and passengers Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare. A prevention of future deaths report was sent to the European Union Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) after an inquest, warning of concerns about gaps in safety rules which risks more helicopter crashes. Coroner Professor Catherine Mason expressed concerns that current aviation rules may not adequately prevent crucial parts from wearing out prematurely, which can cause failures leading to crashes. Part makers may not receive all the detailed flight and system test data from manufacturers, so they cannot fully check if they are safe, the coroner wrote. Prof Mason said concerns were raised about the lack of clear rules on how long some important helicopter parts should last and how they should be inspected, especially for aircraft already in use. The coroner wrote of worries that helicopter makers are not currently required by regulations to thoroughly check critical parts after removal from service, which could help catch problems early. Prof Mason highlighted concerns raised during the inquest about the lack of clear rules for calculating stresses on key helicopter parts and the need for better standards to ensure ongoing safety. Her report pointed to 'failure modes analysis at a system level'. The coroner wrote: 'In my opinion, action should be taken to prevent future deaths, and I believe that each of EASA and the CAA have power to take such action.' On October 27 2018, after a match between Leicester City and West Ham, the Leonardo AW169 helicopter spun out of control after it took off from the pitch. The helicopter began to spin when Mr Swaffer tried to do a right-hand turn over the stadium to take Khun Vichai and the other passengers to Stansted Airport, an inquest jury previously heard. An Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report found that the helicopter began uncontrollably spinning when a bearing in the tail rotor 'seized' after its lubrication broke down, jurors were told. The aircraft landed on its left-hand side on a 0.5m concrete step, causing a fuel leak which ignited and 'rapidly' engulfed the helicopter in flames. The jury of 11 people, who heard evidence over two weeks, concluded that the deaths were accidental. Four of the five victims, including Khun Vichai, died due to smoke inhalation and it was likely they would have survived their injuries if the fire had not started, it was heard. The cause of Ms Lechowicz's death was given as 'significant' head and chest injuries, and she would have died 'extremely quickly' after the helicopter crashed into the ground.
BBC News
28-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Soucek's 'respect' for Leicester in goal celebration
West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek says he did not do his trademark helicopter celebration against Leicester on Thursday out of respect for the Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others died in a helicopter crash after a match against West Ham at the King Power Stadium in scored the opener on Thursday at the London Stadium as the Hammers went on to record a 2-0 Czech usually puts his arms out at his side and spins around - similar to the motion of a helicopter Soucek, who also turned 30 on the day of the game, said: "I didn't think my normal helicopter celebration was the right thing to do, because of what happened to the Leicester owner."I wanted to celebrate my goal with my team, but I also wanted to show respect to our opponents."Srivaddhanaprabha bought Leicester in 2010 for £39m and the club gained promotion to the Premier League four years his leadership, the Foxes then defied odds of 5,000-1 to win the top-flight title in 2015-16 for one of the greatest sporting stories.
New York Times
14-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Project Reset: Why some Leicester City fans are calling for change on Saturday
Nearly nine years ago, Leicester City fans gathered at the Local Hero pub, just up the hill from King Power Stadium, to watch as title rivals Tottenham Hotspur failed to beat Chelsea, meaning their team achieved the incredible feat of becoming 5000-1 Premier League champions. It is the greatest feat in the club's history and in that moment, Leicester fans could not be prouder of their club, which had been transformed under the ownership of the Thai-owned King Power International group and Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. Advertisement Less than a decade on and some Leicester fans will be gathering at the Local Hero once more, but this time the mood is very different. A group of fans, under the banner of Project Reset, have organised a protest march from the pub to the stadium ahead of the lunchtime clash with Arsenal on Saturday. They will be wearing or displaying the colour yellow as a visible protest and have called for other supporters to join them in a vocal protest on 14 minutes — a reference to when Leicester completed the signing of Portugal midfielder Adrian Silva 14 seconds after the deadline in August 2017 and couldn't register him until the January window in 2018. It is seen as an example of the sort of mistakes the club has made since the title success. Protesting fans have also been urged to gather in the middle of the East Stand after the game to be visible for the television cameras. The protestors are demanding transparency and answers as to why the club has gone from one of the most well-run in the Premier League, challenging the elite of English football, to a club that was relegated back to the Championship in 2023 and could be heading straight back there again at the end of this season to face an uncertain future. They want accountability for how the club's wage bill was swelled to the seventh highest in the Premier League but was still relegated amidst crippling profit and sustainability rules restrictions, compounded by mistakes and poor recruitment of a succession of players and managers. The situation has been aggravated by a January transfer window in which manager Ruud van Nistelrooy received only one new signing when results demonstrated he needed more. A summer net spend of £50million ($62.3m) under previous manager Steve Cooper, who was sacked after just 12 games, limited the support Van Nistelrooy could receive in the window, with many of the summer arrivals not chosen to start games under the Dutchman, although these recent events are seen by some supporters as the tip of the iceberg. Advertisement Except for the significant absence of late chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died in the helicopter crash outside King Power Stadium in October 2018, it is the same people who led the club to their astonishing success of 2016, but the fans who are protesting, and many who will choose not to march but share the same sentiments, have lost faith in the same management setup at the club. Everyone at board level has been placed under scrutiny by disgruntled supporters, but particularly director of football Jon Rudkin. A crowdfunding campaign has generated enough to hire a mobile digital billboard that will carry an image of Rudkin, calling for his sacking by the club's owner, chairman Khun 'Top' Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha. The organisers of the protest have said they wish to remain anonymous because they say they fear repercussions from the club, but sent The Athletic a statement titled The Five Dysfunctions of a Failing Football Club, which detailed their points of grievance. The five failings in the eyes of Project Reset are: 'It has gone on too long,' says Will Casey, a student and season ticket holder who says he will be marching and protesting. 'We've given them the chance to come out and be transparent with us and it hasn't happened. Now is the time for change. 'I think they (the board) have run their course. I think we've got to be grateful for everything they've done for us, but I think you only have to look at the recent track record in the transfer market with contracts to know that I think their time's up.' At the heart of the depth of feeling for a reset appears to be the club's reluctance to engage with supporters and offer any mitigation for the recent seasons of decline. 'The unrest amongst the fans isn't because the team is struggling this season and the unrest isn't out of some sort of entitlement, it's been brewing for a few years with the same issues and frustrations repeating themselves over and over again without any sort of explanation or accountability,' says Jake Watson, who isn't one of the organisers of the non-violent protest but a season ticket holder and host of the Big Strong Leicester Boys podcast. Fans of other clubs and those opposed to the protest have accused the protesting Leicester fans of a sense of entitlement after their Premier League and FA Cup success and a lack of reality to their situation as a newly promoted club again, but Watson says that is false and doesn't recognise legitimate grievances. Advertisement 'The fanbase never expected this to continue,' he says. 'Everyone understood it was nigh on impossible to replicate these moments and we savoured them. 'However, over the last few seasons, the way in which this club operates has changed. Metaphorical own goals on and off the pitch time and time again. In any other club, the people responsible for those failings would have been replaced or asked to step aside. 'At Leicester City, it appears with each glaring mistake your position becomes more secure. 'The bulk of the frustration is aimed at Rudkin. He is a man who we all recognise is spread too thin within the King Power business, but he is also a man who has proven he is not up to the level required to be a director of football at a club this size. 'It would appear to us as fans that Leicester could plummet back down into League One and Rudkin would still be sat, emotionless, next to Khun Top overseeing the football operations. We implore Khun Top to bring someone else in to help with recruitment.' It is unclear how many fans will be marching to the stadium on Saturday, but the protest has been included in police planning for the game. 'The force is aware of a planned peaceful protest outside King Power Stadium on Saturday,' Leicestershire police said in a statement. 'This has been taken into consideration as part of the policing operation for this fixture.' There are fans who are not ready to protest outright yet but still share the same frustrations as those who will. While a minority of fans may even feel a change of ownership is ultimately required, there are a large proportion who do not. 'I absolutely support Top and do not want a change of ownership, just some fresh ideas and practices in the boardroom,' says Iain Wright, season ticket holder and contributor to BBC Radio Leicester and The Fosse Way website. Advertisement 'Of course, we're all grateful for everything Top and family have done, but since the advent of PSR, the rules have changed to prevent anyone else buying into the top six. It's no longer a battle of who's got the best benefactor, it's a battle of who's got the best strategy. This is where our board has struggled. 'The current board have allowed two of the biggest losses in UK sporting history (£92.5m in 2022 and £89.7m in 2023). 'The nub of the frustration is that the same people have continually failed, allowing the position we were in to evaporate completely without consequence. 'Plain and simply, it's time for a new director of football and other board members to inject fresh ideas and expertise to create a different strategy in line with what's needed in the modern game, to stabilise things and then push us forward.' But not all fans support the protest. Cliff Ginnetta, chairman of the official supporters' club, says the club's members are not involved. 'We don't know anything about it and are not interested in it,' he says. 'We are supporters, so we back the club no matter what. 'Mistakes have been made and we go to meetings with the club and point that out. That's how it works 'It has become quite toxic in the ground and away from home and I am not sure why people are getting wound up. We all knew this would be a difficult season. We were expecting a big points deduction and a battle for survival after winning the Championship last season, but people seem to have forgotten that. 'I have meetings with people and try to explain how it works, but they don't want to know and get carried away. I think they think they are running the club.' The Foxes Trust, which has a member on the Fans' Advisory Board, which regularly meets with the club, say they understand the reasons for the protest but have no official position on Saturday's plans. Advertisement 'The Foxes Trust understands the anger and disappointment of some fans, including some who are members,' said chairman Steve Moulds. 'A peaceful protest outside of the ground indicates that some fans care about the direction the club has been taking and want to publicly demonstrate this, but I would urge those who want to have a dialogue with the club to join the trust, help us grow in numbers, as we are having dialogue with the club at various levels.' What impact such protests will have on Van Nistelrooy's side this Saturday as they fight for Premier League survival is a point of debate amongst supporters who have varied views on the club's situation and the calls for a reset. 'I think this season especially, there needs to be a sense of togetherness, but I think the big thing about the protest is they're not aiming it at the players on the pitch,' says Casey. 'They're saying get behind the team, full support for the team, but say your piece about the people higher up as well.' Van Nistelrooy supports the fans' right to voice their opinion, but stressed how much their total backing for his players means as they face Arsenal. 'Thank God we live in a society where there's freedom of speech,' he said at his pre-match press conference. 'Everybody who feels that they should let their voice be heard in a good way is free to do that and we have to all be happy that we can do that. 'Looking back as a player, when you played in front of your home crowd and there is a connection with that crowd, and there is a tackle or a pass or a cross or in a difficult moment in a game where the support lifts you, I know from experience.' Many supporters do want to take their opportunity and exercise their right to make their feelings known as they feel their voice is being ignored as they call for change. Advertisement 'The club refuses to enter any meaningful dialogue or make steps to make us believe the direction this club is in is likely to change,' Watson adds. 'We want to see someone brought in to manage the football operations. Recruitment, contract and transfer negotiations at the club have been under-resourced and outdated. 'If we don't make a stand now and protest, then not only will this club be relegated this season, it will once again cause a financial catastrophe. 'What the protest looks like I am unsure of, but what I am sure of is that the club needs a change.' They may not get the change they want, but some Leicester fans certainly want their voice heard.
