Leicester City helicopter crash: Tributes to victims five years on

New tributes have been paid to Leicester City's former owner and two pilots killed in the helicopter crash at King Power Stadium five years ago.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Eric Swaffer and Izabela Roza Lechowicz were among five people on the aircraft who died at the stadium in October 2018.

Mr Swaffer and Ms Lechowicz, the pilot and co-pilot of the helicopter, were partners.

They were described by their families as "brilliant" individuals.

Mr Vichai's son, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, said "even after all this time, the grieving continues".

He added: "My father had a strong impact at home in Thailand, but I know he felt a close kinship with Leicester fans and players in the UK and in the East Midlands."

Mr Swaffer was piloting the helicopter when it crashed shortly after taking off from the stadium on 27 October.

As well as the club's chairman, two members of his staff - Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare - were on board and also died.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch's final report said the crash was "inevitable" after a sequence of mechanical failures.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Lechowicz's sister Kate and her partner Dave Allen said the five years since the crash had been the worst of their lives.

"The pain and the grieving doesn't go away. We think about them every day," said Ms Lechowicz.

"My sister was the closest person in my life. We had an amazing relationship - and with Eric as well - spending lots of time together and going on holiday together.

"They were to be godparents to our first son."

She added: "There is definitely a hole in our lives and we just have to fill in this emptiness.

"We are trying to keep their memory alive as that helps us and everyone around us.

"Eric and Izabela were very well known in the aviation industry not only in the UK but globally.

"We want them to be remembered for the brilliant individuals they were. They were a very unusual couple and there was nothing more important in their lives than flying.

"They would wake up every day hoping this would be the day they would be in a plane or helicopter - or anything with wings.

"Eric would fly any machine that had an engine attached that he could take in the air. The dream of flying connected them together.

"They were also known for their kindness, their sense of humour."

Mr Allen said the couple had carried many famous passengers, including the Dalai Lama and Prince William, during their careers.

He said: "Izabela was especially unusual in an often male-dominated industry and was exceptional in the sense she was also a flight examiner.

"Part of [her] legacy is there are multiple pilots in operation who were examined by her.

"She was celebrated for her achievements in aviation."

Leicester City and Sunderland fans marked the anniversary of the crash with a minute's applause when the Championship sides met at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday.

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