Football: The Leicester owner's helicopter crashes near the stadium, he would be among the victims

A helicopter crashed on Saturday night near the Leicester football stadium (central England). According to the Sky Sports television channel, which broadcast footage of the helicopter in flames, it is a device owned and owned by the British football club Leicester City.e Thais Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

Images taken after the incident show an area with impressive flames towards which rescue vehicles converge.

The accident took place just hours after Leicester tied 1-1 with West Ham in a Premier League game at King Power Stadium. According to Sky Sports, the helicopter took off from the ground between 8:30 pm and 8:45 pm, but he had problems with his tail rotor soon after and crashed into a nearby parking lot.

BBC and Sky confirm presence

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha used to leave the stadium with his helicopter, which takes off from the field, when he attends a home game in Leicester. But the identity of the pilot and pbadengers aboard Saturday has not yet been confirmed. It is also not known whether people on the ground were injured.

"We are badisting the Leicestershire police and the emergency services who are dealing with a serious incident at King Power Stadium," a club spokesman said in a statement. He said the club would communicate in more detail once more information has been prepared.

Former Leicester footballer Gary Lineker said on Twitter that he "heard the Leicester City owner's helicopter crashed into the club parking lot".

Theres a major incident by the King Power Stadium. Emergency services attending. pic.twitter.com/GtAbo6AHpD

– Mr Geoff Peters (@mrgeoffpeters) October 27, 2018

Leicester City footballers Jamie Vardy, Ben Chilwell and Harry Maguire all tweeted emojis with joined hands as a sign of prayer. Ben Chilwell said he was "speechless".

Ud83d ude4f ud83c udffc ud83d ude4f ud83c udffc ud83d ude4f ud83c udffc ud83d ude4f ud83c udffc ud83d ude4f ud83c udffc ud83d ude4f ud83c udffc ud83d ude4f ud83c udffc ud83d ude4f ud83c udffc

– Jamie Vardy (@ vardy7) October 27, 2018

According to several media reports, the club owner was on the plane. The BBC, via its correspondent in Asia, said it was confirmed by members of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's family.

The Leicester City owner's helicopter crashed in a park outside the club's ground on Saturday.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was in the helicopter, a source close to the family told the BBC.

More: https://t.co/8GYFMwofMy pic.twitter.com/FLnUABCBpL

– BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 28, 2018

Sky News confirmed on Sunday morning that the president's daughter was on the plane as well as the two pilots. The 5th victim is not identified.

BREAKING: Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was on board the helicopter which crashed outside the stadium.

The owner's daughter, two pilots and one unidentified fifth person were also on board.

For more on the story: https://t.co/1yjDmmRTBC pic.twitter.com/z3eHCR8H7y

– Sky News (@SkyNews) October 28, 2018

Contacted by Reuters, the spokesmen of the group "King Power", founded by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the owner of Leicester, have neither confirmed nor denied the presence of the leader in the helicopter. "We can not say anything for now," they said.

Helicopter crash outside Leicester City stadium pic.twitter.com/c6Yb89WoTU

– Ceren Senkul ud83d udc80 (@CerenSenkul) October 27, 2018

On the other hand, Claude Puel, Leicester coach, was not the helicopter, contrary to a circulating rumor. Nice Matin got it this Sunday morning.

"They gave us everything"

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is a 60-year-old Thai billionaire. His fortune, built initially with a single duty-free shop in Bangkok, was estimated in 2016 at $ 2.9 billion.

He bought Leicester City for about 40 million pounds in 2010 when no one bet on this English club that was then playing in the second division. He managed to make him the most unlikely Premier League champion of all time, in 2016, making the little club live a real fairy tale. This is the first time Leicester City has won this title since the club's inception in 1884.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is very popular with club fans. Last April, he offered them beers and bottled water to celebrate his sixtieth birthday.

Moved by the drama, fans arrived Sunday morning near the stadium, bringing some flowers. "I could not sleep at night," told AFP Anti Patel, voice broken. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has "done a lot for the club". "I do not know what to say, I can not get over it."

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who is also a polo enthusiast, is familiar to the powerful people of Thailand, foremost among them the royal family. His name, Srivaddhanaprabha, was awarded to him in 2013 by the King of Thailand.

This fervent Buddhist is father of four children. His son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, nicknamed "Top", is vice-president of the club.