Leicester City confirm chairman's death in helicopter crash [Update Post #8]

[MenInG]

The Leicester City owner's helicopter has crashed in a car park outside the club's ground as it left the stadium following a Premier League match.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was in the helicopter when it came down at about 20:30 BST on Saturday, a source close to the family has told the BBC.

One witness said he saw Leicester player Kasper Schmeichel run out of the stadium towards the scene of the crash.

It is not known how many other people were on board the helicopter.

Leicester had drawn 1-1 against West Ham United at the King Power Stadium.

The game kicked off at 17:30 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.

One Leicester season ticker holder, who did not wish to be named, said: "I saw Kasper Schmeichel run out first [from the stadium] and then loads of security guards and stewards.

"I was stood outside the ground but it crashed on the other side."

Another witness said it appeared "the tail propeller wasn't working, putting it into a spin".

In the early hours of Sunday, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service's Assistant Chief Fire Officer Andrew Brodie tweeted that he had just left "multiagency strategic meetings" at Leicestershire Police's HQ.

He described the crash as "clearly serious and tragic", adding: "Please don't speculate on cause or who may be involved. Think of families, friends, responders, and @LCFC and their fans."

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.

"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."

Leo Bruka told 5 Live that he saw two police officers whose car was near the crash scene.

"One of them was looking for something and the other one, he ran straight away to the helicopter and he was trying to break the window," he said.

"Then there is an explosion and they pulled back because the fire was too hot."

Leicestershire Police said officers were working alongside the other emergency services, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and Leicester City FC to establish the circumstances of the collision.

In the early hours of Sunday the force tweeted that the AAIB, which said it had sent a team to the stadium, was leading the investigation.

Leicester City said the club was assisting police and emergency services and would issue a more detailed statement in due course.

I have seen staff, backroom staff and [the] first team in tears here his evening. The reception area is described as silent, people looking around and crying and not knowing what to do and consoling each other.

I remember the owners taking over. I said hello to them in native tongue, their face lit up. I have generated relationships with them, seen them in Thailand in Bangkok in their home surrounding, they are really nice people.

The chairman looked at me today on the way to the executive box and said "hello and good afternoon".

We were keeping a close eye on him because of the nature of today's game and it is really eerie around Leicester at the minute this evening.

Sky Sports News reporter Rob Dorsett said the helicopter took off from the pitch, as it does after every game.

He said that after a few seconds it appeared to lose control and crashed into the car park just a few hundred metres away.

Labour MP Jon Ashworth, who represents Leicester South, said he had been in touch with emergency services and thanked them for responding so quickly.

Leicester Mayor Peter Soulsby tweeted that his thoughts and prayers were "with all - particularly owners who've done so much for club and our city".

Former Leicester City and England striker Gary Lineker signed off on Match of the Day by saying it had been a "dreadful day".

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

Father-of-four
Billionaire and founder of duty-free consortium King Power International
Ranked as the fifth richest person in Thailand by Forbes Magazine
Bought Leicester City in 2010 for £39m
Under his ownership, the club won the Premier League in 2016 and reached the Champions League quarter finals a year later


https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46006470

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">That was the most difficult <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCMOTD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCMOTD</a> I’ve ever hosted. Thoughts are with everyone at Leicester City. A terrible tragedy. Heartbreaking.</p>— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryLineker/status/1056319810949267457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[James]

Apparently he was on board.

Looking at all the pictures and videos, no way anyone is surviving this.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

We can only hope for the best.

Sad day.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was on board the the helicopter which crashed outside the stadium. <br><br>The owner's daughter, two pilots and an unidentified fifth person were also on board.<br><br>For more on the story: <a href="https://t.co/1yjDmmRTBC">https://t.co/1yjDmmRTBC</a> <a href="https://t.co/z3eHCR8H7y">pic.twitter.com/z3eHCR8H7y</a></p>— Sky News (@SkyNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNews/status/1056484658446299136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Hasan123]

Sad news. Hopefully he survives.

 

[Saj]

Awful news.

Details still to come out, but it sounds like terrible news.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/hQSR0IDWWg">pic.twitter.com/hQSR0IDWWg</a></p>— Leicester City (@LCFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LCFC/status/1056666958870073345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[gazza619]

Terrible. Life can be so cruel sometimes. You can have all the money in the world but when its your time nothing can change it.

 

[Abdullah719]

Leicester City pay their respects at the King Power Stadium

Leicester City's senior squad paid their respects to the club's owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha who died in a helicopter crash on Saturday.

The players arrived at the King Power Stadium as a team on a coach before filing past the sea of tributes left outside the ground.

They paused in silence before the crowd burst into spontaneous applause.

Mr Vichai, two of his staff, a pilot and a passenger were all killed when the aircraft came down at about 20:30 BST.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-engl...-pay-their-respects-at-the-king-power-stadium

 

[Pakistanian]

Rip

Lifes come at you fast. Allahu Akbar.

 

[KingKhanWC]

People die every day, rich or poor but this is sad for those who love football esp Leicester fans and players.

Was a humble man, who gave millions to the area he became part of. A lot of clubs are run as businesses but he made LFC a family club.

RIP

 

[MenInG]

Peshawar Zalmi pays tribute to the late owner of Leicester City, Mr. Vichai Sirvaddhanaprabha.

Peshawar Zalmi paid tribute to the Leicester City Football club's owner Mr. Vichai Sirvaddhanaprabha who passed away in a helicopter crash a few days ago. We are truly saddened by the demise of Mr. Vichai. Zalmi's representative, Mr. Ihtisham Ul Haq, on behalf of the Zalmi Family and Chairman Javed Afridi, paid tribute to the Leicester City owner by placing flowers at his memorial. He met the fans and conveyed our thoughts and prayers. Chairman Javed Afridi in his message said that it is a huge loss. Mr. Vichai after taking charge of Leicester City did some remarkable work as well. It was due to his diligent efforts that the club is where it is at today.

 

[MenInG]

Strange for Leics player to be booked for displaying message on his shirt today

 

[shaz619]

RIP, his contribution to LCFC will never be forgotten

 

[MenInG]

Leicester City players and officials are due to fly to Thailand to attend the funeral of the club's owner who died in a helicopter crash.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's funeral began at a Bangkok temple on Saturday with Buddhist bathing rituals and will be followed by recitation ceremonies.

The club beat Cardiff 1-0 earlier in the first game since Mr Vichai's death.

Players came out of the tunnel for their warm-up wearing T-shirts featuring a picture of Mr Vichai.

They stood for a minute's silence along with Leicester City staff and fans ahead of the kick-off.

Mr Vichai died with two members of his staff, the pilot and a passenger when the helicopter crashed moments after taking off from the King Power Stadium on 27 October.

His funeral began with a bathing rite ceremony and will be followed by recitation ceremonies over seven days.

The ceremony was held behind closed doors and a special funeral urn and also a five-tiered umbrella, which reflected his high status, was used.

Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, the manager of Thailand's women's football team, and the president of the Football Association of Thailand were among the guests.

Mr Vichai's body arrived in Thailand on Friday ahead of the funeral.

At the scene


The start of this lengthy funeral was in stark contrast to the emotional scenes witnessed at the Leicester City stadium.

It began with a stately bathing ceremony for Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's body at a royal temple in Bangkok, attended by his family and a few senior political and business figures.

They poured holy water donated by King Maha Vajiralongkorn over flowers adorning the coffin, which was inscribed with the initials VS, and the simple words, "the possible man", reflecting his business and sporting success.

This Buddhist funeral serves an important religious function for the deceased, with rituals like the nightly chanting by monks accumulating merit for him. But it serves a social function too, affirming the status he achieved, in particular by getting royal sponsorship.

Mr Vichai had a quite different image in Thailand than he had in Britain, a private and cunning entrepreneur who cultivated powerful connections to see off challenges to his lucrative duty-free monopoly, through which he became very rich, very quickly.

There is little of the public affection and gratitude on display here that has been so visible in Britain. But when the Leicester City team arrives in Thailand to attend the funeral, Thais will be reminded of just how much this improbable hero meant to football fans on the other side of the world.

The wreckage of the helicopter was removed from outside the stadium on Friday.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has begun examining parts of the aircraft and the in-flight recorder.

All this weekend's Premier League games will be preceded by a minute's silence, or applause, and players will wear black armbands.

When Leicester fans arrived at the King Power Stadium before making the journey to the game in Cardiff, they were given free breakfast by the club.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46082866

 

[MenInG]

Players and staff from Leicester City have arrived at a temple in Bangkok to pay their respects to the club's late chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, was among five people killed when his helicopter crashed moments after taking off from the King Power Stadium following the match against West Ham.

The chairman was a hugely popular figure and it was under his ownership that Leicester memorably defied pre-season odds of 5,000-1 to claim an unlikely Premier League title success.

On Saturday the team played their first match since Srivaddhanaprabha's death, winning 1-0 at Cardiff in a Premier League match.

After the game, a Leicester delegation boarded a chartered flight to Bangkok, in order to attend part of the week-long ceremony at Wat Thepsirin temple, which began on Saturday.

In total, 18 players have made the trip, including goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, striker Jamie Vardy and captain Wes Morgan, who were particularly close to Srivaddhanaprabha.

Manager Claude Puel is also in attendance, along with director of football Jon Rudkin, chief executive Susan Whelan, and other Leicester directors.

The squad and staff will visit the temple again on Monday evening local time (midday GMT), before flying back to the East Midlands just before midnight (1700 GMT).

Leicester's next match is at home to Burnley on Saturday.

https://www.skysports.com/football/...hailand-for-vichai-srivaddhanaprabhas-funeral

 

[shaaik]

Helicopter tragedy will haunt me forever, Leicester's Schmeichel says

Puel on Schmeichel's 'very difficult' experience on night of the helicopter tragedy

Leicester City manager Claude Puel said on Thursday (1st November) that his players, especially Kasper Schmeichel are devastated following the death of the club owner in a helicopter crash.

London - Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel says the helicopter crash that killed the club's revered Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha will haunt him forever after he witnessed the tragedy.

The 32-year-old Danish international - speaking after Leicester had beaten Cardiff on Saturday in their first match since the crash, which also killed four others - waved the helicopter off following the 1-1 draw with West Ham on October 27.

Moments later it came down, with Schmeichel reported to have been stopped by police as he ran towards the burning wreckage.

"I was on the pitch and I waved him off," said Schmeichel, before he flew with teammates and coaching staff to Bangkok to attend Vichai's funeral.



Leicester City family comes together to remember Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

Leicester vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha visited the King Power Stadium to pay tribute to his father and club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha following his tragic death.

"I saw it all happen. It is something that will stay with me, unfortunately. It's not a nice memory but I've had all the support that I need.

"The club has been great and everybody has received the support that they needed."

Schmeichel joined Leicester in 2011, a year after Vichai bought the club, and was a pivotal figure in their fairytale Premier League title win in 2016.

He admitted to shaking as he warmed up in Cardiff before the game on Saturday.

The goalkeeper, who had the Thai national flag on his gloves, then joined his teammates and backroom staff around the centre circle to pay tribute to Vichai and the other victims.

"It was tough," said Schmeichel, who had grief counselling during the week. "But we wanted to do it for the chairman and his family.

"We wanted to be together about this, because we've all lost what feels like a family member.

"Wes (Morgan the captain) said a bit, I said a bit. People had a lot to say because he meant so much to so many people. Everyone wanted to chip in.

"He brought everybody here and none of this - the memories, this family he's built, the culture he's instilled - would be here without him."

Schmeichel, who faces another emotion-packed game this Saturday when Leicester play their first home match since the tragedy against Burnley, said Vichai transcended the traditional image of a Premier League club owner.

"When he took over this club it was in a pretty precarious situation, and to build what he has is quite amazing," he said.

"It's one thing building a team and a club that can perform on the pitch but we're more proud of the family that he's created and the feeling he's instilled in everybody being welcome.

"It doesn't matter who you are or what kind of position you have at the club. Whether it be player, staff, stadium staff, security - whatever it may be - everyone is equal and part of the family."

https://m.sport24.co.za/Soccer/Engl...ill-haunt-me-forever-schmeichel-says-20181105

 

[MenInG]

There was "minimal chance" for anyone to survive a helicopter crash outside Leicester City's stadium in which five people died, an inquest has heard.

Club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died alongside four others when the aircraft came down shortly after a match on 27 October.

Det Ch Supt David Sandall told the inquest an intense fire stopped anyone getting in or out of the cabin.

He said CCTV footage showed the helicopter "spinning out of control".

Coroner Catherine Mason heard Mr Sandall, of Leicestershire Police, was the senior identification manager.

Mr Sandall confirmed the victims had been scientifically identified and added: "CCTV shows the five victims in the tunnel at Leicester City football ground.

"Mobile phone footage showed the helicopter spinning out of control before descending to the crash site."

Adjourning the inquest, Ms Mason said: "You have detailed to me that the final cause of death is pending subject to tests.

"Therefore I am not in a position to continue with the inquest at this time."

A date for the inquest's resumption has not been set.

Many players and staff have returned to the UK after attending the start of Mr Vichai's funeral in Thailand.

The billionaire bought Leicester City in 2010, and his guidance and investment is credited with helping the club win promotion in 2014 and then the Premier League title in 2016.

A number of players, including club captain Wes Morgan, striker Jamie Vardy and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, have spoken of the huge impact the Thai billionaire had on them and the club.

Thousands of tributes have been left outside the King Power Stadium and both physical and online books of condolence have opened.

Mr Vichai routinely flew from the stadium after matches and the helicopter came down less than a minute after taking off following a 1-1 draw with West Ham.

Two members of Mr Vichai's staff - Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai - pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz, also a qualified pilot, were also killed in the crash.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash having taken the wreckage to a facility in Farnborough, Hampshire.

The AAIB has confirmed contents of the digital flight recorder survived the post-crash fire.



https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-46107923

 

[MenInG]

The helicopter which crashed killing Leicester City's chairman and four others spun out of control after a mechanism became disconnected, investigators said.

An Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) report found cockpit pedals had disconnected from the tail rotor.

This caused the AW169 aircraft to turn uncontrollably to the right before it crashed near the King Power Stadium.

The AAIB said its inquiries into the 27 October crash were ongoing.

Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff Nusara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, and pilots Eric Swaffer and Izabela Roza Lechowicz were killed in the crash.

A public memorial for Mr Swaffer and Ms Lechowicz - who police said was a passenger at the time of the crash - is taking place at Guildford Cathedral on Thursday.

An inspection at the crash site found parts of a mechanism linking the pilot's pedals to the tail rotor had become disconnected and there was a "build-up of black grease" on one component.

The failure of the system led to the pitch of the tail rotor blades being changed "until they reached the physical limit of their travel".

The report stated: "The initiating cause and exact sequence of the failure that resulted in the loss of tail rotor control is being investigated as a priority."

Widely shared video footage of the helicopter's last flight, taken from inside the King Power Stadium, shows the AgustaWestland AW169 climbing normally for about 40 seconds before it pauses and goes into a downward spin.

The aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 430ft then crashed to the ground.

It was rapidly engulfed in a post-impact fire and all five people on board were killed.

Following the crash, the European Aviation Safety Agency ordered safety checks to be carried out on the tail rotors of AW169s and similar models.

At the memorial service for the pilots in Guildford, Ms Lechowicz's sister Kate paid tribute to the pair saying "they were just an incredible couple and amazing pilots".

"[They were] always there for their family and friends, ready to fly across the globe to be with us or anyone who would need it."

She said both had been excited at the prospect of becoming aunt and uncle to her son who is now 18 days old.

She said: "I wish you could meet each other. We have already applied for his passport, as you wished, so he can fly before he walks.

"You have touched the lives of every single person you have met... I know I am not alone in feeling a part of me is missing that never can be replaced."

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-46471934

 

[FearlessRoar]

Coventry v Leicester: police remove banners on M69 mocking helicopter crash

West Midlands Police have removed offensive banners aimed at Leicester’s late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha placed on the motorway before the Championship match against Coventry.

Several photos emerged on social media displaying messages which were put up on the M69, which Leicester fans used to travel to the game on Saturday lunchtime.

Some banners showed images of helicopters alongside offensive messages to mock Srivaddhanaprabha, who died in a helicopter crash alongside four others shortly after taking off from the King Power Stadium in September 2018.

After West Midlands Police were notified of the offensive banners, they were taken down from the motorway and the force warned fans about the relevant legislation.

Coventry City FC Police, a force unit for West Midlands Police, posted on X, formerly Twitter: “I was hoping there wouldn’t be a need however I feel the minority, I stress minority need a timely reminder. There is legislation in place that covers tragedy chanting, including the displaying of offensive banners.”

Both clubs were quick to condemn the abuse and will work with the police to find out who created them and take action, including bans for anyone found to be involved.

Coventry issued a statement on X, , which read: “Coventry City completely condemns incidents today which have seen banners being displayed containing offensive content directed at Leicester City Football Club.

“Coventry City will work with West Midlands Police to identify those who created and displayed these banners, and take appropriate action against them. Such behaviour has no place in football or society, and these people are not welcome at our Football Club and will be subject to bans.”

A Leicester spokesperson said: “The football club notes with disappointment the disrespectful actions of a minority of opposition supporters, mocking the tragic events that deeply affected our club and community. Such behaviour stands in contrast to the values of respect and unity that football should embody.

"We are grateful to Coventry City Football Club and the wider football community who stand with us in condemning these actions and brought this incident to the attention of the relevant authorities. We will work with all parties to support the identification and appropriate response to those involved.”

It is not the first time that banners have been used to mock the rival fan base in the ‘M69 derby’ after some Leicester fans displayed banners on the same motorway following their 2-1 victory over Coventry in August.

Source: The Guardian

Coventry v Leicester: police remove banners on M69 mocking helicopter crash

Police have removed offensive banners aimed at Leicester’s late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha placed on the motorway before the Championship match at Coventry

www.theguardian.com