Leicester City football club owner's helicopter crashes outside stadium

[rooster59]

Leicester City football club owner's helicopter crashes outside stadium

 

Soccer Football - Premier League - Leicester City v West Ham United - King Power Stadium, Leicester, Britain - October 27, 2018 General view of the wreckage of the helicopter belonging to Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha that crashed outside the King Power Stadium REUTERS/Andrew Yates

 

LEICESTER, England (Reuters) - A helicopter belonging to Leicester City football club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed in a ball of flames in the club's car park on Saturday, British media said.

 

It was not known whether Vichai was in the helicopter which had taken off just moments before from the pitch about 40 minutes after the end of the game.

 

The helicopter which is thought to be able to carry up to 20 people spiralled out of control before crashing, Sky reported.

 

Leicester police tweeted that they were dealing with an incident near the club's King Power Stadium and that emergency services were also at the scene.

 

Freelance photographer Ryan Brown was covering the game and saw the helicopter clear the stadium before it crashed, the BBC reported.

 

"Literally the engine stopped and I turned around, and it made a bit of a whirring noise," Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live. "It turned silent, blades started spinning and then there was a big bang."

 

Vichai bought the unfancied side in 2010 before they stunned the world of soccer by beating the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea to win the Premier League title in 2016.

 

Leicester had played a league match at home against West Ham United earlier on Saturday, drawing 1-1.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-28

 

 

 

 

 

[chippendale]

I hope all the occupants are safe, but it looks unlikely.

 

 

Edited October 28, 2018 by theoldgit
Off topic comment removed

[kickstart]

Just looking at the BBC, they say they are uncertain if he was on board at the time.

Or in BBC speak, No announcement untill relatives have been informed.

Just mentioned it to the wife, she looked shocked, she said he did a lot for Thai football, especially in the troubled south of the country.

[roo860]

There's a rumour that Gareth Southgate was on board, as he arrived in the said helicopter.

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[champers]

14 minutes ago, roo860 said:

There's a rumour that Gareth Southgate was on board, as he arrived in the said helicopter.

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Also rumoured that Leicester manager Claude Puel was on board.

[roo860]

Also rumoured that Leicester manager Claude Puel was on board.

Bloody hell.

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[Eric Loh]

He is well loved by Thais. Heard Toon’s cross country run was actually collaborated by him and he gave the first million. Wish him and all those aboard well. 

[gjoo888]

52 minutes ago, kickstart said:

Just looking at the BBC, they say they are uncertain if he was on board at the time.

Or in BBC speak, No announcement untill relatives have been informed.

Just mentioned it to the wife, she looked shocked, she said he did a lot for Thai football, especially in the troubled south of the country.

I think you're on to something. The story of the crash has been out for quite awhile, but still no news about who was onboard.

[roo860]

Apparently, according to an eye witness it had just cleared the stadium, went into a spiral dive, then burst into flames, you'd be lucky to get out of that fireball.

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[Thunder26]

Why so much secrecy about who was on the board? 

[Orton Rd]

Leicester Police have announced Vichai died from 3rd degree burns no mention of others

[bluemoonpattaya]

1 minute ago, Thunder26 said:

Why so much secrecy about who was on the board? 

I  think the relatives would like to be informed in person. rather than see it on the news.   It' called respect.... 

[Justgrazing]

Latest Beeb bulletin at 3:30am UK is the Chairman and Owner of Leicester City WAS on board the aircraft when it crashed ..

[MARK74]

11 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

Leicester Police have announced Vichai died from 3rd degree burns no mention of others

no such report from the police as yet . . 

https://leics.police.uk/news-appeals/news

 

[geronimo]

A tragedy for all concerned. That guy will always be remembered for what he did at Leicester City, winning the Premiership and all.

 

I'm sure the details of who else was onboard will surface soon enough. RIP

[theoldgit]

A number of posts in unbelievably bad taste have been removed, along with a few posts from members who are showing some common decency.

 

This was a terrible accident, one in which I suspect people have lost their lives, please don't use this forum to post comments of this nature, it's really not at all funny.

[colinneil]

  Latest from the BBC, Vichai was onboard, nothing further about who else was onboard.

A very sad day for English football, will members stop with the pathetic inappropriate comments.

Please show some dignity and respect, R.I.P.  to all those onboard.

[GAZZPA]

Very sad news. Not a fan of football really but undeniably he has done a lot for Leicester city and all the fans. Seems unlikely he was not on board because its not something you would hold back from the press if he wasn't. Much more likely he was on board the helicopter, I hope it was not him and his family.

 

 

 

 

[moontang]

 

[Kadilo]

4 minutes ago, moontang said:

 

Isn’t that old footage?

[Kadilo]

9 minutes ago, GAZZPA said:

Very sad news. Not a fan of football really but undeniably he has done a lot for Leicester city and all the fans. Seems unlikely he was not on board because its not something you would hold back from the press if he wasn't. Much more likely he was on board the helicopter, I hope it was not him and his family.

 

 

 

 

Seems likely. One guy reporting from the ground who observed and was there every week said the usual routine was that the Chairman would leave with any VIP guests and never known for him not to be on the initial lift. 

Very sad. 

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, Eric Loh said:

He is well loved by Thais. Heard Toon’s cross country run was actually collaborated by him and he gave the first million. Wish him and all those aboard well. 

 

He's well loved in Leicester too Eric. Not just what he's done for the football club but the way he interacts with the fans and the local population. A very warm and generous man. Thoughts are with them all.

[Old Croc]

15 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

Isn’t that old footage?

If that is the actual footage of the flight that crashed, it appears there were 3 older men and their wives who boarded.

[phitsanulokjohn]

Terrible news.That coupled with the news about Glenn Hoddle made for a very bleak day for English football yesterday.

[Kadilo]

5 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

If that is the actual footage of the flight that crashed, it appears there were 3 older men and their wives who boarded.

If you read the comments on YouTube they are scathing and saying it’s old footage and “people should be ashamed” for posting etc. 

A guy  in the video is wearing shortsleeves which suggests it’s old as it was freezing cold. 

Edited October 28, 2018 by Kadilo

[Orton Rd]

1 hour ago, bluemoonpattaya said:

I  think the relatives would like to be informed in person. rather than see it on the news.   It' called respect.... 

How do we know they have not been? anyway, it's obvious nobody was getting out of that alive and likely cause of death was burns. His business aside he was a very great man IMO and much loved in Leicester for his achievements and enormous generosity to fans.

[JonnyF]

Very sad incident and the silence is deafening as surely they/he would say if he wasn't on there.

 

I don't see why he wouldn't be if he attended the game. I guess several family members were on there as well and maybe other VIP's. 

 

I hope casualties are as low as possible. 

 

 

[Kadilo]

6 minutes ago, Orton Rd said:

How do we know they have not been? anyway, it's obvious nobody was getting out of that alive and likely cause of death was burns. 

Thanks for the update Quincy.  At least any deceased won’t need an autopsy now.

Edited October 28, 2018 by Kadilo

[geronimo]

BBC just reported that according to family members, he was onboard.

[Easy Come Easy Go]

3 hours ago, chippendale said:

I hope all the occupants are safe, but it looks unlikely.

 

 

Helicopter accidents very rarely end ok