Tearful Leicester City fans gathered to lay flowers at the King Power Stadium today (tributes pictured centre) after the owner's helicopter came crashing down to earth and burst into flames shortly after taking off from the ground last night. The helicopter (charred remains pictured half covered with a sheet this afternoon, right and before take-off inset) was carrying popular owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60 (pictured left) two crew members and two passengers when it took off from the centre circle after Leicester's draw with West Ham yesterday evening.
Police and the club are yet to release an official statement on the tragedy, but the BBC have reported a source close to the Thai billionaire's family said he and the four others died in the crash. Supporters branded it Leicester's 'darkest day', paying tribute to the much-loved owner who helped them to a miracle Premier League victory in 2016. As matches resumed across the country today, fans and players fell silent in solidarity with Leicester. Mr Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter was heading for Luton Airport where he was due to catch a flight to Thailand, Leicester sources said today. But witnesses say they heard the 'engine stop' in mid-air just after take-off before the aircraft plummeted to the ground in the club's car park at around 8.30pm.
An aerial view of the crashed helicopter's charred remains shows the aircraft partially covered by a sheet this afternoon
The scene of the crash has been sealed off by police officers with a sheet covering one end of the helicopter in the stadium's car park
Pedestrians walk past a mural of chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha near De Montfort University in Leicester on Sunday
The owner's family often watch the football games together. (From L-R) Leicester City Executive Director Apichet Srivaddhanaprabha, Arunrung, Voramas, Mrs Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, Leciester City Director of Football Jon Rudkin, Leciester City Vice-Chairman Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and Leicester City Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
The helicopter belonging to Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed outside the King Power Stadium following Leicester's 1-1 draw with West Ham yesterday and burst into a flames
The London home of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was empty today while shocked neighbours waited for news of whether or not he was in the helicopter which crashed
A graphic shows the locations around the King Power Stadium which the crashed helicopter could have threatened
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