The son of Leicester City FC's former chair has criticized the manufacturer of a helicopter that crashed and killed his father, calling it a "death trap."
Five people died when the Leonardo AW169 helicopter crashed outside the King Power Stadium and became engulfed in flames. An inquest jury ruled on Tuesday that the crash was an accident.
The jury concluded that the helicopter had all airworthiness and maintenance certificates and that the pilot took all available and appropriate options to try to regain control.
The inquest heard that the helicopter had spun because of a mechanical fault involving a bearing in the tail rotor. The helicopter crashed onto its left-hand side on a 0.5m concrete step, creating a "substantial" fuel leak, which ignited the rear of the helicopter within a minute of the impact.
Four of the five people killed in the crash died because of smoke inhalation after the fire started, while the co-pilot "likely died at the point of impact" from traumatic injuries.
The son of the former chair has launched a £2.15bn lawsuit against the Italian manufacturer Leonardo SpA. The sum is for loss of earnings and other damages incurred as a result of the billionaire's death.
8 Comments
Matzomaster
Such comments won't help anyone heal. The focus should be on moving forward, not on lawsuits.
Rotfront
It's troubling to see personal grievances turned into public accusations without full context.
Karamba
Throwing around accusations doesn’t solve mechanical issues. Let's leave it to experts to sort.
Matzomaster
This could encourage better safety standards in aviation, which benefits everyone!
Rotfront
I stand with the family. This shouldn't just be about the money; it’s about safety and justice!
Michelangelo
This is just opportunistic. The son should focus on honoring his father's memory instead.
Donatello
The helicopter met all safety standards. This seems like an attempt to profit from a terrible accident.
BuggaBoom
It's understandable to be angry after such a tragedy. Accountability is important!