Helicopter belonging to Leicester City owner crashes in flames outside club's stadium

Owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha leaves the stadium by helicopter after home games

A helicopter belonging to Leicester City Football Club's owner has crashed outside the King Power stadium following the match against West Ham.

It is not known if the club's owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was in the helicopter at the time.

However, an eyewitness told The Independent the owner, his wife and another family member were on board.

The witness, who works at the stadium, said: "The helicopter took off but the rotor at the back failed, it spiralled and it crashed in flames into the car park at the kop end, at the back of the stadium."

He said he believed four people were on board at the time of the crash, including the pilot.

Pictures from outside the stadium showed a large fire in the club's car park, where police cars and emergency services rushed towards the scene.

The crash came after Leicester City drew 1-1 with West Ham at home in the Premier League game.

After every Leicester home game, Mr Srivaddhanaprabha leaves the stadium by his helicopter, which lands in the centre circle on the pitch

Lee Hurst, a lifelong Leicester City supporter, said news of the crash was "very upsetting".

"The owner has been everything to this club, they have made it successful," he told The Independent.

"They are the heart and soul of this club, without them we wouldn't have any good players."

Leicestershire Police confirmed emergency services were dealing with an incident near the football stadium, but have not provided any further details.

Srivaddhanaprabha leaves the stadium by his helicopter, which lands in the centre circle on the pitch, after every Leicester home game (Rex)

A police cordon kept members of the public around 300 yards from the scene of the crash, visible here to the right of the image (Sean O'Grady)

Sohail told The Independent: "It will have a massive effect if anything was to happen [to the owner], with a lot of importance for the team and the city itself.

"It is very saddening, the owners were a big part of everything that the team has done."

Jim Tyrel said: "It’s an awful thing, I live nearby and I usually see the helicopter coming in and out. Something tragic has happened.

"They’ve been fantastic for the team. Within three or four seasons they’ve paid off the debt and won the league.

"They were dedicated to the club, it is a family business and they took this as part of the family. So it is a deep tragedy.”

Leicester City football players - including Jamie Vardy - have tweeted messages of support and are praying for those on board.

A Leicester City spokesman 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."

Andrew Brodie, assistant chief fire officer at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, tweeted: "IMPORTANT: Emergency Services are dealing with a significant incident lcfc King Power stadium.

"It's essential you stay away and allow 999s free movement. More info will follow."

Pete Ripley, associate director of operations at East Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "We received a call at 8.38pm on 27 October to reports of a helicopter crash in the car park of King Power Stadium in Leicester.

"We have sent a doctor in a car, 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."

He added: "We are currently working with our colleagues in Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service at the scene.

"We advise members of the public to stay away from the area while we deal with this incident."

A crowd of around 70 people gathered at a police cordon around 300 yards from the scene of the crash.

The fire had been extinguished but a number of firefighters and police officers remained at the stadium.

A statement from Leicestershire Police said: “Emergency services are currently dealing with an incident at the King Power Stadium, in Leicester, after an aircraft came down in a car park behind the ground earlier this evening.

“Officers are working alongside the ambulance service, Leicester Fire and Rescue Service, the Air Accident Investigation Branch and Leicester City Football Club to establish the exact circumstances of the collision.

“Further updates will be issued in due course."

Mr Srivaddhanaprabha, who owns the King Power company, bought Leicester in 2010 and became chairman the following February.

Sports journalist Ben Jacobs tweeted that the owner was on board the helicopter to London before it crashed.

He added that King Power is expected to release a statement on Sunday.