Court hears case against releasing Leicester City helicopter crash recordings
High Court deliberates disclosure of flight recordings following crash near stadium
A request to release recordings from a helicopter crash that killed Leicester City's owner is being contested in a hearing at the High Court.
The crash took place outside the club's stadium following a match between Leicester City and West Ham on 27th October 2018, claiming the lives of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, pilot Eric Swaffer, Izabela Lechowicz, Nusara Suknami, and Kaveporn Punpare.
The family of Mr Srivaddhanaprabha is pursuing compensation and damages from Leonardo S.p.A., the helicopter's manufacturer, claiming the helicopter was defective.
Leonardo has requested data from the flight recorder to defend against what family lawyers have described as "the largest fatal accident claim in English history", arguing the crash was due to pilot error rather than a technical defect.
Representatives for the family, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), and the British Airline Pilots’ Association have contested the release of the cockpit recordings, with concerns about privacy, potential harm from disclosure, and the implications for pilot cooperation in safety investigations.
Mrs Justice O’Farrell is set to hear further arguments and will deliver a ruling at a later date.