Latest news with #KhunVichai
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Leicester City's future shrouded in doubt with Thai owners facing total business collapse
LEICESTER'S future has been left shrouded in uncertainty as their Thai owners face a total business collapse. Foxes chairman Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha left his role as chief executive of duty free giant King Power with the company staring at massive losses and potential failure. 1 Top has switched to being 'group executive chairman' where he will 'play an important role in determining the direction and setting the policy framework for business operations'. But that adds to the club's financial woes after their relegation from the Premier League and likely points deduction in the EFL next term. Top, 39, took charge of the Foxes and the King Power company following the fatal helicopter crash that cost the lives of his father Khun Vichai - in charge of the club since 2010 - and four others as it left the stadium following a Prem draw with West Ham in 2018. He bankrolled the club's return to the Prem after their relegation in 2023 but watched as Ruud van Nistelrooy's appointment as manager to succeed Steve Cooper in December failed to arrest an instant return to the EFL. But the club's on-field issues look to be paling into insignificance by comparison with the financial woes afflicting the King Power company. King Power enjoyed a three decade near-monopoly on duty free concessions in Thailand but is aiming to completely renegotiate contracts at four of the country's major airports, asking for all rental fees to be waived. That is expected to lead to losses of £450m-plus for the state-run Airports of Thailand, which rejected the opening offer from King Power. But in a signal of the depths of the crisis, Top's replacement at the helm, Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, revealed: 'It's like a patient surviving on oxygen. 'The company's intention was to ask AOT to remove the oxygen because we can't cope anymore. This was the signal we sent.' The admissions signal the depth of the cash-flow operations that threaten both King Power's operations and its 7,000 employees. He added: 'We're in a position where we're saying we can't manage, and we're asking AOT for help. "We'll listen. If the conditions allow us to remain profitable, we'll stay. If not, and we can't make it work together, we'll accept that." It comes with Leicester still expected to part company with van Nistelrooy following their relegation and the likelihood of a points deduction after a Prem Arbitration Tribunal ruled they can be charged and punished for a PSR breach for the 2023-24 promotion campaign.
South Wales Guardian
11-06-2025
- South Wales Guardian
Coroner says urgent action needed on helicopter rules after Leicester City crash
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.
North Wales Chronicle
10-06-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Coroner says urgent action needed on helicopter rules after Leicester City crash
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.
Leader Live
10-06-2025
- Leader Live
Coroner says urgent action needed on helicopter rules after Leicester City crash
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.
South Wales Argus
10-06-2025
- South Wales Argus
Coroner says urgent action needed on helicopter rules after Leicester City crash
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.
