Leicester City Owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's Helicopter Crashes Outside King Power Stadium
By Chris Deeley
The helicopter of Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has crashed outside the club's stadium after Saturday evening's 1-1 draw with West Ham.
The Thai businessman is picked up on the pitch by the helicopter after every home game, with the BBC indicating that the helicopter was leaving the ground when the incident occurred, and that Mr Srivaddhanaprabha was on board. Sky News have also reported that his daughter, two pilots and an unidentified fifth person were also on board.
BREAKING: Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was on board the the helicopter which crashed outside the stadium.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 28, 2018
The owner's daughter, two pilots and an unidentified fifth person were also on board.
For more on the story: https://t.co/1yjDmmRTBC pic.twitter.com/z3eHCR8H7y
The helicopter, which Srivaddhanaprabha's company King Power confirmed that he was on board, came down in the car park of the stadium shortly after taking off.
Leicester released a short statement on Saturday night, which read: "We are assisting Leicestershire Police and the emergency services in dealing with a major incident at King Power Stadium. The Club will issue a more detailed statement once further information has been established."
Sky Sports' Rob Dorsett said: “At about 8:30 this evening (Saturday), eye witnesses told me they saw the Leicester City owners helicopter take off from the pitch inside the King Power stadium – as it does after every game – and after a few seconds it appeared to lose control.
Leicester sporting director Eduardo Maciá was not on board Leicester helicopter that crashed. Claude Puel has confirmed to French media that he is also safe https://t.co/9gAHuTGn92
— Ed Malyon (@eaamalyon) October 28, 2018
"It sounds like there was a fault with the rear tail propeller, which meant it was sent spinning out of control and crashed in the car park at the rear of the King Power Stadium, just a few hundred metres away from where the pitch is.”
A statement from Leicester police read: "We are dealing with an incident in the vicinity of the King Power Stadium. Emergency services are aware and dealing."
Theres a major incident by the King Power Stadium. Emergency services attending. pic.twitter.com/GtAbo6AHpD
— Mr Geoff Peters (@mrgeoffpeters) October 27, 2018
Videos posted from the scene show fire and a large cloud of smoke. The BBC report also included an eyewitness statement from a season ticket holder claiming he saw goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel run out of the stadium towards the helicopter, with another witness claiming that the tail propellor of the helicopter wasn't working properly, putting it into a spin.
Leicester Police tweeted early on Sunday morning to confirm that the AAIB, which said it had sent a team to the stadium, is leading the investigation.
We understand that many people are waiting for an update about the helicopter crash at King Power Stadium last night. We are working with a number of other agencies to get an update out to the public and press. Thank you for your patience and all your messages of support.
— Leicestershire Police (@leicspolice) October 28, 2018
Leicester City and local police are believed to be preparing to make a statement when official developments become known.