Leicester City helicopter crash ruled an accident at jury inquest

The coroner had previously instructed the jury[1] that its conclusions into where, when and how the five came to die could not legally dispute the findings of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

A final report, published by the AAIB[2] in September 2023, said the Leonardo AW169 helicopter's tail rotor bearing seized, which in turn caused the crash.

The AAIB said the crash was "inevitable" after a sequence of mechanical failures, and ruled out drone involvement and pilot error.

The coroner also told the jury the identities of the deceased and the medical cause of their deaths were not in dispute.

Pathologist Dr Michael Biggs, who carried out post-mortem examinations on each of the five who died, told the inquest[3] previously that Ms Lechowicz died from injuries sustained from the impact of the crash.

He added the other four people on board would have died "quite rapidly" from smoke inhalation from the fire that quickly broke out after the helicopter crashed outside the stadium, following the club's 1-1 draw with West Ham United.

References

1. ^ previously instructed the jury (www.bbc.com)
2. ^ published by the AAIB (www.bbc.com)
3. ^ told the inquest (www.bbc.com)