Elle Macpherson accused in husband's helicopter crash 'cover up'

Elle Macpherson has been accused of taking part in a 'conspiracy' to cover up claims that her billionaire husband was piloting a helicopter without a licence when it crashed, killing his best friend.

The supermodel has been named in a £61m wrongful death lawsuit filed in Miami against hotelier Jeff Soffer by Daria Valdez, who lost her husband Lance in the crash in the Bahamas in November last year.

The lawsuit claims Mr Soffer, who owns the famous Fontainebleu hotel in Miami, was "recklessly flying and controlling" the helicopter without a valid pilot's licence when it crashed attempting a landing at the Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club on Great Guana Cay.

It claims that Soffer was at the controls of the helicopter, not a pilot who was on board.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the lawsuit claims Daria came under "intense pressure from Mr Soffer and his associates to sign a release stating that she would not take legal action against anyone else aboard the helicopter in response for accepting a $2 million insurance payment".

The paper adds that Macpherson is alleged to have taken part in the cover up about the alleged piloting.

According to the Independent.ie, Mr Soffer's attorney said his client denies all allegations of wrongdoing.

Mr Valdez was one of Soffer's oldest friends, and is reported to have introduced him to Elle in London.

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