Pedal fault caused the Foxes crash
PILOT LOST CONTROL
THE helicopter crash that killed Leicester City’s owner was triggered by a pedal fault, investigators revealed yesterday.
When pilot Eric Swaffer pressed a pedal that should have made the chopper turn left, it went right.
The aircraft, which had just taken off from the pitch at Leicester’s King Power Stadium, plunged 430ft to the ground and exploded in a fireball in a car park.
The Foxes’ owner, Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, died with employees Nursara Suknamai, 32, and Kaveporn Punpare, 33, pilot Eric, 53, and his girlfriend and co-pilot Izabela Lechowicz, 46.
Last night urgent checks were being carried out worldwide on all similar AgustaWestland AW169 helicopters. The disaster
STAR
ARMED raced to a car in Wednesbury, West Midlands, after a 999 caller reported a hold-up – only to find the passenger holding a mobile phone to the driver’s ear.
BURST
happened after Leicester’s 1-1 draw against West Ham nearly three weeks ago.
According to the accident investigators’ preliminary report, the helicopter started to turn right “contrary to the pilot’s left pedal command”.
The report added: “Investigation of the tail rotor control system is being carried out as a priority.” THE area where a monster unclaimed £76million EuroMillions jackpot was bought has been revealed.
Operators Camelot said it was purchased in the Boston and Skegness area of Lincolnshire as no-one has stepped forward to claim the prize since the draw on November 2.
The winning numbers were 5, 15, 17, 37, 44 and the Lucky Star numbers were 7 and 11. Andy Carter of the National Lottery said: “We’re urging everyone to be checking anywhere a missing ticket could be hiding.”