Leicester helicopter crash: City football club owner's helicopter crashes outside King Power Stadium

A helicopter belonging to the owner of Leicester City Football Club has crashed outside the King Power Stadium.

Leicestershire Police has said it is dealing with the incident.

The force tweeted: "We are dealing with an incident in the vicinity of the King Power stadium. Emergency services are aware and dealing."

According to reports the helicopter began to lose control shortly after take off before plummeting to the ground.

Thai businessman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is renowned for travelling to games in the aircraft but it is not known if he was onboard when it crashed, following Leicester's 1-1 draw at home with West Ham.

Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha 
Getty Images

According to Sky Sports sources, the club's vice-chairman Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddanaprabha and director of football John Rudkin were not on board.

Images have shown the copter downed in the car park near the stadium and engulfed by flames.

A statement from Leicester City said: "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."

East Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the scene at 8.38pm.

TalkSPORT correspondent Geoff Peters posted a video and wrote: "Theres a major incident by the King Power Stadium. Emergency services attending."

Former England and Leicester City striker Gary Lineker, who was born in the city, wrote on Twitter: "Helicopter crash looks horrendous. Not sure yet if any, or how many casualties. Thoughts with everyone concerned."

Current players Jamie Vardy and Harry Maguire have both posted prayer emojis on Twitter in the aftermath, while left-back Ben Chilwell wrote "speechless".

It was reported that goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel ran out of the stadium after the incident and was one of the first to witness the scene.

Srivaddhanaprabha, who owns the King Power company, bought Leicester City in 2010 after his company became the club's main sponsor.

He became chairman of the then-Championship club the following February, and said he wanted a top five finish within three years after the Foxes were promoted in 2014.

In fact, in one of sport's greatest underdog stories, Leicester were Premier League champions in 2016.

Sky Sports correspondent Rob Dorsett​ said: "About 8.30pm, eyewitnesses saw the Leicester City owner's helicopter take off from the centre circle, as it does after every home game, and after just a few seconds it appeared to lose control.

The helicopter often landed in the King Power Stadium's centre circle
AFP/Getty Images

"It sounds as though there was some fault with the rear tail propeller which meant it started spinning out of control before it crashed into the car park at the rear of the King Power Stadium, just a few hundred metres away from the pitch."

"Spectators who are leaving the game are standing around in groups and still very shocked at what they saw and what they are hearing.

It is unknown who was on the helicopter
Ryan Browne/BPI/REX/Shutterstock

"We don't know who was on board and we don't know how they are. But, clearly, it is a very serious situation and would be very difficult for anybody on board to escape this with their lives.

"There has be to concern for people who are walking back to their cars or get buses back to the train station and any impact that would have."

The helicopter is in flames at a car park near the stadium (Leo Bruka/via REUTERS )
Leo Bruka/via REUTERS

An eye-witness, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “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.”

Emergency services at the scene (BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images

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."

The official West Ham United twitter account has the thoughts of the club are "with everybody at Leicester City at this time".

While Hammers player Pablo Zabaleta wrote: "My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved in the helicopter accident at Leicester City."

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