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Leicester City owner's helicopter crashes leaving stadium 43 minutes ago Share this with Facebook Share this with Messenger Share this with Twitter Share this with Email Share Image copyrightLIAM HOPKIN / @HOPKIN_LIAM Image caption One witness said he heard "a big bang and then saw "a big fireball" The Leicester City owner's helicopter has crashed in a car park outside the club's ground shortly after taking off following a match. It is not known if Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was in the helicopter at the time. Leicester City had been playing West Ham United in the Premier League at their King Power stadium. One witness said he saw Leicester's goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel run out towards the crashed helicopter. The game, which ended 1-1, kicked off at 17:30 BST and finished about one hour before the helicopter took off. Under Mr Srivaddhanaprabha's ownership, Leicester City won the Premier League in 2016, having started the season as 5,000/1 outsiders. Image copyrightPA Image caption Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha purchased Leicester City in 2010 One Leicester season ticker holder, who did not wish to be named, said: "I saw Kasper Schmeichel run out first and then loads of security guards and stewards. "I was stood outside the ground but it crashed on the other side. I hope everyone is OK." Recap: Reaction after Leicester City helicopter crash Freelance photographer Ryan Brown was covering the game and saw the helicopter clear the King Power stadium before it crashed. He told BBC Radio Leicester: "The engine stopped and I turned round and it made a bit of a whirring noise, like a grinding noise. ADVERTISEMENT "The helicopter just went silent, I turned round and it was just spinning, out of control. And then there was a big bang and then [a] big fireball." Media captionWitness John Butcher: "The helicopter just span" A Leicestershire Police spokesman said emergency services were dealing with an incident "after an aircraft came down in a car park behind the ground". Leicester City said the club was assisting police and emergency services and would issue a more detailed statement in due course. A spokesman for East Midlands Ambulance Service said they received a call at 20:38 BST to reports of the helicopter crash. The service has advised members of the public to stay away from the area. A University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust spokesman tweeted to say they were aware of the incident and supporting emergency services |
