Leicester helicopter crash: Player RUNS to 'tragic' scene as shocking new details emerge The Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter crashed in a car park outside the club's ground just after 8.30pm on Saturday. It has emerged overnight that Srivaddhanaprabha was in the helicopter, a source close to the family told the BBC.
A Leicester season ticker holder told the BBC: "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." It is not known how many other people were on board - although there are conflicting suggestions over whether it seats eight or 20 passengers.
It is understood Srivaddhanaprabha was leaving the stadium after Leicester had drawn 1-1 against West Ham. Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service's Assistant Chief Fire Officer Andrew Brodie tweeted regular updates on the situation overnight. He wrote at 9.48pm: "IMPORTANT: Energency 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." At 1.13am he delivered a second update which read: "Leaving @leicspolice HQ after multiagency strategic meetings following helicopter incident. Clearly serious and tragic, please don’t speculate on cause or who may be involved. Think of families, friends, responders, and @LCFC and their fans." "Just visited the @LeicsFireRescue @leicspolice @EMASNHSTrust crews still on scene of the helicopter crash @LCFC. Honestly, your police, ambulance and fire responders are magnificent, caring and dedicated.
Don’t ever forget it," he added just before 2am. Match of the Day commentator Alistair Mann appeared on the show last night and told Lineker: "Those of you who have been to Leicester over the last few years know it's fairly common place for half an hour after the game, it goes up and takes him to wherever he wants to go.
"This was the situation again this evening. It's a common situation but within barely seconds of it taking off and going above the stand over the top of the ground, it appears to have reached some difficulties and has come down. "The impression I get is beyond the car parks that are immediately around the vicinity of the stadium but fairly nearby nonetheless.
"It's come down, apparently there was smoke initially, then a pop and it seems to have become engulfed in flames. "Look, we don't know who is on board at this stage and we don't know for sure those who got on to the helicopter, but ordinarily it takes the family, we can't confirm if the chairman was on, we can't confirm if any of his family members were on, I'm led to believe it's normally a two-person crew.
"I believe that was the case this evening but we really don't know for sure who was on board. That appears to be what happened. "Because there was a game on tonight, the emergency services were in the vicinity so there was a very quick reaction and lots of police and ambulances and so on very quickly on to the scene to control the situation.
"It is a very serious situation but we really don't know the extent of it just at the moment." Related articles Leicester helicopter crash: Leicester announce double fixture postponement At around 8.30pm on Saturday night, an hour after Leicester drew 1-1 with West Ham in the Premier League, the helicopter belonging to Leicester owner Srivaddhanaprabha crashed outside the ground. Details of the incident remain unclear, but witnesses say the helicopter seemed to spiral out of control moments after it set off from the pitch.
It has not been confirmed whether Mr Srivaddhanaprabha was on board the aircraft, and police have yet to release any information about the condition of the pilot or any passengers. Leicester City Women were due to play Women at the Farley Way Stadium at 2pm today but the decision has been taken to postpone the match. The Foxes also confirmed their reserves league match against Derby County has been postponed.
City Women wrote on Twitter: “In light and in respect of the recent events at King Power Stadium our @FAWC_ fixture against @ManUtdWomen has been postponed. “A newly arranged date will be communicated once confirmed. “Our Reserves league match against Derby County Ladies has also been postponed.
“If you purchased a ticket online for the Manchester United match, you will shortly receive an email with your next steps.” Officials at Thailand’s King Power have said they have no comment to make on the crash. And they neither confirmed nor denied whether Mr Srivaddhanaprabha was on board the helicopter. Mr Srivaddhanaprabha, who owns the King Power company, bought Leicester in 2010 and became chairman the following February, leading the club as they became Premier League champions in 2015-16.
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." Jonathan Ashworth, Labour MP for Leicester South, tweeted: "Awful horrific scenes at @LCFC with the helicopter crash.
I've been in touch with our emergency services and thanked them for responding so quickly. Our hopes and prayers for all those caught up in this desperately awful incident." Witnesses told Sky Sports News the helicopter took off from the pitch but lost control within a few seconds and crashed in the club's staff car park.
The website Planefinder said that Mr Srivaddhanaprabha's Agusta Westland AW169 helicopter set off from near Fairoaks Airport in Surrey at about 2.45pm on Saturday, and travelled into Fulham, west London, before turning north and proceeding to the King Power Stadium in Leicester.