Leicester City FC owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha may have been aboard when his helicopter crashed in the club’s car park and burst into flames after ‘suffering engine trouble’ on Saturday
Leicester City owner’s helicopter crashes in car park outside the team’s stadium and bursts into flames after ‘suffering engine trouble’ in wake of take-off from the centre circle
Helicopter belonging to Leicester City Football Club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed outside the stadium ‘with him aboard’ in the City of Leicestershire, in the UK on Oct., 27
The tragic helicopter crash feared to have killed five on board including club’s 60-year-old owner and one of his four children
Reports say Leicester City FC owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was probably abooard when his helicopter crashed outside the King Power Stadium following club’s 1-1 draw with West Ham United on Saturday
A helicopter belonging to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, owner of British soccer club Leicester City Football Club owner burst into flames after it crashed yards away from the club’s King Power stadium in Leicestershire, in the British South East after taking off from the pitch center circle on Saturday night.
Witnesses reported seeing the Augusta Westland AW-169 aircraft seemingly suffering engine trouble and spinning out of control shortly after it took off from the centre-circle.
Witnesses reported seeing the Augusta Westland AW-169 aircraft seemingly suffering engine trouble and spinning out of control shortly after it took off from the centre-circle.
The helicopter, feared to have been carrying popular club owner, billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, a family member and two pilots crashed in the corner of a car park moments after taking off from the centre circle after a Premier League game last night.
The helicopter took off from the centre circle of the pitch with stadium staff and pundits looking on. Moments later it began to spin out of control in the air and dropped out of the sky and burst into flames
Early reports said the 60-year-old Thai born billionaire’s daughter was on board with him at the time, although sources at Leicester FC have since denied this. The BBC has reported that a family source said the owner himself was on board.
Tearful Leicester City fans have gathered to lay flowers at the King Power Stadium today after reports the club’s owner was on board a helicopter which crashed and burst into flames last night.
Fans who gathered at the ground this morning called it Leicester’s ‘darkest day’, paying tribute to the owner who helped them to a miracle Premier League triumph in 2016.
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha waves to fans after a Premier League clash between Leicester City and Southampton in April 2016. He was at the game, a family member told media he was on board the helicopter when it crashed
Leicester soccer club’s ‘darkest day’: Fans have returned to the stadium from miles around to pay tribute to one of the City’s more illustrous residents, who may have been killed in the crash – Police are yet to confirmed identies of victims
Police have yet to comment on the condition of the club chairman. With fans waiting desperately for news police said this afternoon they were ‘working with a number of other agencies’ to release a statement. The condition of billionaire Mr Srivaddhanaprabha is not known, but he is believed to have been on board according to witnesses in the stadium who watched the chopper take off.
Srivaddhanaprabha’s helicopter was heading for Luton Airport where he was due to catch a flight to Thailand, Leicester sources said today.
Witnesses have said the ‘engine stopped’ in the air before the helicopter plummeted to the ground at around 8.45pm.
Vichai’s daughter, Voramas Srivaddhanaprabha [right] is the senior creative and communication manager of the King Power Group. Speculation that she was also aboard so far has been refuted by the organization
It was a common sight to see the family watch games together: L-R Leicester FC Executive Dir Apichet Srivaddhanaprabha, Arunrung, Voramas, Mrs Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, club Dir of Football Jon Rudkin, Vice-Chairman Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
Mr Srivaddhanaprabha’s helicopter was heading for Luton Airport where he was due to catch a flight to Thailand, Leicester sources said today.
Witnesses have said the ‘engine stopped’ in the air before the helicopter plummeted to the ground at around 8.45pm.
Mr Srivaddhanaprabha made his money in retail in Thailand and his King Power duty-free shops are in every airport in the Asian country.
The sound of the helicopter crash could be heard on post-match analysis broadcasts. Team goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel is reportedly witnessed the crash and broke down in tears.
Prelude to tragedy: At the end of the game on Saturday, the chairman’s helicopter was seen landing on the centre circle of the pitch
Moments later huge plumes of smoke were seen billowing in the air following the crash at around 8.30pm on Saturday night in carpark E of the King Power soccer stadium in Leicestershire
A huge inferno erupted after the club owner’s chopper crashed just outside Leicester City’s King Power stadium following their 1-1 draw with West Ham United FC. The helicopter came down near to Leicester City’s staff car park at around 8.30pm on Saturday
Club owner Srivaddhanaprabha [right], and Leicester FC captain with Wes Morgan celebrate winning the 2016 premier division title. Srivaddhanaprabha bought the club, then in the lower divisions, for £39m in 2010 and masterminded their return to elite soccer
A fire fighter approaches the wreckage. The helicopter appears to have been completely destroyed by the powerful blaze. There is no news of survivors
Total wreck: The Augusta Westland AW-169 aircraft was reduced to a mass of twisted metal. The helicopter came down shortly after Leicester City’s 1-1 draw with West Ham on Oct 27
Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha would typically arrive and depart the club’s home games in hs helicopter. Here he walks to his helicopter which has landed on the pitch after the game against Southampton in April 2016
A host of former and current players, as well as West Ham chairman Lady Karren Brady, tweeted their commiseration in the aftermath of the crash
A Leicester City fan named John, who was at the game today, told Sky Sports News: ‘We was in the bar facing the King Power – my nephew was in a real state of shock. He said he saw this helicopter out of control then drop within a second and burst into flames.
‘He was so upset – we’re all thinking about the owners here and what they’ve done for the football club. It’s awful, you can’t believe it.’
The area around the ground has been closed off, while the stadium was evacuated. West Ham’s team bus had already left, though some Leicester players were still inside the stadium.
Leicester City defender Harry Maguire tweeted a video of the aftermath of the crash with praying hands emojis. Midfielder James Maddison, Ben Chilwell, Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy also posted the same emojis following the game.
England and Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell tweeted: ‘Speechless.’
West Ham defender Pablo Zabaleta, who played in the game, tweeted: ‘My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved in the helicopter accident at Leicester City.’
His teammate Declan Rice tweeted: ‘Horrendous scenes at the king power tonight, my prayers & thoughts go out to everyone involved at Leicester’
‘He was so upset – we’re all thinking about the owners here and what they’ve done for the football club. It’s awful, you can’t believe it.’
The area around the ground has been closed off, while the stadium was evacuated. West Ham’s team bus had already left, though some Leicester players were still inside the stadium.
Leicester City defender Harry Maguire tweeted a video of the aftermath of the crash with praying hands emojis. Midfielder James Maddison, Ben Chilwell, Wilfred Ndidi and Jamie Vardy also posted the same emojis following the game.
England and Leicester City defender Ben Chilwell tweeted: ‘Speechless.’
West Ham defender Pablo Zabaleta, who played in the game, tweeted: ‘My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved in the helicopter accident at Leicester City.’
His teammate Declan Rice tweeted: ‘Horrendous scenes at the king power tonight, my prayers & thoughts go out to everyone involved at Leicester’
Leicester City FC owner Srivaddhanaprabha [center], was born in Bangkok on April 4, 1958 to a Thai Chinese family. He is fifth on the Thailand rich list of billionaires and is said to be worth close to £4billion
Former Foxes midfielder turned pundit Robbie Savage said: ‘What an absolutely terrible terrible day , my thoughts and prayers are with everyone at my old club Leicester city.’
Former Leicester City striker and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker tweeted: ‘Hearing that the Leicester City owners’ helicopter has crashed in the club’s car park.’
He later added: ‘That was the most difficult @BBCMOTD I’ve ever hosted. Thoughts are with everyone at Leicester City. A terrible tragedy. Heartbreaking.’
Jonathan Ashworth, Labour MP for Leicester South, tweeted: ‘Awful horrific scenes at @LCFC with the helicopter crash. I’ve been in touch with our emergency services and thanked them for responding so quickly. Our hopes and prayers for all those caught up in this desperately awful incident.’
Leicestershire police said in a statement: ‘We are dealing with an incident in the vicinity of the King Power Stadium. Emergency services are aware and dealing.’
Leicester’s Hospitals added: ‘We are aware of the incident in the vicinity of the King Power Stadium and are supporting emergency services.’
Leicester FC fans of all generations leave tribute at memorial for beloved club chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha on Sunday
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha waves to fans after a Premier League clash between Leicester City and Southampton in April 2016. He was at the game but it is unclear whether he was on board the helicopter
King Power are due to release a statement tomorrow once more details have been confirmed.
Srivaddhanaprabha was born in Bangkok on April 4, 1958 to a Thai Chinese family.
The Thai billionaire Srivaddhanaprabha kick-started his business journey by opening a duty-free shop back in Bangkok in 1989 at the age of 31.
His retail company, King Power, is now a staple of the country’s airports and the brand also have the naming rights to Leicester City’s stadium.
Entrepreneur Srivaddhanaprabha bought Leicester City in August 2010 and was named chairman in February 2011.
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