The late owner of Leicester City football club, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, passed away seven years ago in a tragic helicopter crash in October 2018, and he is survived by his wife, Aimon, and their four children.
Alongside Vichai, the crash claimed the lives of five other people in the helicopter, including the two pilots and staff members.
As a result, this incident altered Aimon’s life, leaving her to navigate life alone with her children by her side.
Following the incident, Aimon and her son joined the English Premier League outfit’s players and hundreds of fans at the club’s stadium to pay tribute to the victims of the crash.
Highlights
- The jury has concluded that the helicopter crash of 2018 that caused the passing of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was accidental.
- Vichai’s wife, Aimon, has been a driving force behind their family business as Group Chairman following her husband’s passing.
- Aimon has managed to balance her responsibilities as both a mother to her children and a devoted wife, all while continuing to foster Vichai’s legacy.
On January 28, 2025, a jury concluded that the helicopter crash that killed Vichai and five others was accidental.
Moreover, Vichai’s wife, Aimon, and his children were at the hearing to hear the verdict.
Furthermore, the three-week inquest highlighted that the pilot, Eric Swaffer, did everything in his power to control the helicopter after a critical bearing in the tail rotor failed, leading to the accident.
An inquest into the 2018 helicopter crash outside Leicester City’s King Power Stadium has found the deaths of five people, including the club’s chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, were accidental.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) January 28, 2025
In the accident, pilot Eric Swaffer, co-pilot and Swaffer’s partner Izabela… pic.twitter.com/n1IP0ydxgs
According to Vichai’s son, Aiyawatt, the family seeks accountability from Leonardo, the helicopter manufacturer, and is pursuing compensation from a company responsible for meeting standards.
Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha Has Been A Strong Influence In Handling The Family Business After Her Husband’s Passing
Vichai and Aimon were a happy married couple and parents of their four children- Voramas, Apichet, Aroonroong, and Aiyawatt.
They greatly kept their personal lives out of the spotlight. However, it is known that they shared a strong partnership, raising their four kids together.
Alongside maintaining their personal family lives, their union contributed significantly to the success of their family business, King Power International, which is a major Thai duty-free retail giant.
Aimon was the woman behind Vichai who consistently supported him throughout his ventures in maintaining the company’s operations.
All through his journey from starting the King Power to playing a pivotal role in their historic Premier League victory in 2016, his wife was there beside him.
After the unfortunate passing of her husband, Aimon stepped up significantly in her roles both as a mother for her family and within the family business.
Despite the undeniable pain of losing her husband, she showed grace and strength as a wife and mother, handling both her family and their business.
Heartbreaking pictures.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 29, 2018
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's son Aiyawatt and wife Aimon have been to lay flowers at King Power Stadium.
The club owner's daughter Voramas was also at the stadium to pay her respects.
Tributes and reaction: https://t.co/wW5qF9LIFo pic.twitter.com/ILQGETej1c
Aimon is currently the Group Chairman of King Power International. Under her guidance, the company has continued to expand in the international market.
She has continued to lead the family’s philanthropic initiatives, overseeing various charitable initiatives aimed at improving education, healthcare, and community welfare in Thailand and other countries.
Additionally, Aimon has garnered recognition on several platforms for her influential role, even securing a spot on Fortune’s 2024 Most Powerful Women in Asia list.
Fortune Asia included her in the list of their Most Powerful Women in Asia with a significant rank of 90.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha took over the leadership role at Leicester City Football Club, continuing his father’s legacy. Along with him, Aimon’s other children also actively participate in the family’s enterprises.
Although Aimon maintains a low profile, her influence is undeniable, as her strength is particularly evident in the wake of her husband’s passing.
Additional Information
- In October 2018, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha earned the title of Thailand’s 5th richest man, with a net worth of $4.9 billion.
- Vichai and his son, Aiyawatt, bought the English Football League Championship club, Leicester City, in August 2010.
- Leicester City went on to win the 2015-16 Premier League title, after which Srivaddhanaprabha bought his second football club, OH Leuven, in Belgium.
