Leicester City owner, 4 others missing after copter crash

Leicester, October 28 

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A helicopter belonging to Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed on Saturday near the stadium of his Premier League club Leicester City. The helicopter was seen enveloped in flames in mobile phone images from the scene and an AFP photographer later saw smoke coming from the wreckage.

It crashed shortly after take-off following Saturday’s game against West Ham in a car park close to King Power Stadium — a scene of jubilation two years ago when underdogs Leicester City won the Premier League in a remarkable footballing feat. “Emergency services are currently at the King Power Stadium where an aircraft came down in a car park behind the ground,” police said. 

Thai businessman Vichai, who has poured millions into the club, often takes off from the pitch in his helicopter when he attends a Leicester home game. Srivaddhanaprabha was in the helicopter when it crashed down on Saturday, a source close to the family told the BBC. 

Freelance photographer Ryan Brown, who was covering the game, said he saw the helicopter rise out of the stadium before it crashed. “Literally the engine stopped and I turned around, and it made a bit of a whirring noise. It turned silent, blades started spinning and then there was a big bang,” he said.

 He said he saw “a huge fireball” when he ran to the scene. The identities of the pilot and any passengers on board have not yet been confirmed. It is also not yet known if anyone on the ground was injured.

Vichai, who owns the King Power company, bought the club in 2010 and became chairman the following February. He is a beloved figure in the club and the city. “Thoughts and prayers — with all — particularly owners who’ve done so much for Club and our City,” Leicester’s mayor Peter Soulsby tweeted. 

Leicester footballers Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire both tweeted praying hands emojis. Sky Sports said the helicopter took off from the pitch between (1 am and 1:15 am IST) but developed problems shortly afterwards with its tail rotor. The local ambulance service said it was alerted at 3:48am.  “We sent a doctor, two paramedics in ambulance cars, a crewed ambulance and our Hazardous Area Response Team, with the first resource arriving within two minutes of the call,” it tweeted. Air crash investigators are also examining the scene. — AFP