Leicester City Helicopter Bursts Into Flames Outside King Power Stadium

The helicopter of Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has crashed outside the King Power Stadium following the Foxes' Premier League match against West Ham.

The incident occurred in the club car park with eye witnesses saying police cars, ambulances and security were frantically rushing around the stadium.

It is reported Srivaddhanaprabha was on board, but it is unclear who else was.

Leicester had drawn 1-1 against the Hammers with Wilfried Ndidi's strike cancelling out Fabien Balbuena's opener.

Srivaddhanaprabha gets picked up by his helicopter on the pitch at the King Power after every Leicester home game.

Pictures immediately after the crash showed a huge fire outside the ground.

Leicestershire police said in a statement: "We are dealing with an incident in the vicinity of the King Power Stadium. Emergency services are aware and dealing."

The crash was reportedly caused by a problem with the tail fin on the helicopter.

It is understood the helicopter took off as normal, reaching a height of approximately 200 feet, before going into a tail-spin and crashing into the car park.

Soon after hitting the concrete, it was engulfed in a fireball.

The helicopter is understood to have capacity for six passengers and two crew members.

Many shocked Leicester fans gathered at the ground after the crash to survey the scene.

Foxes legend Gary Lineker tweeted: "Hearing that the Leicester City owners’ helicopter has crashed in the club’s car park."

He added: "Helicopter crash looks horrendous. Not sure yet if any, or how many casualties. Thoughts with everyone concerned."

Leicester defender Harry Maguire tweeted some prayer emojis with an accompanying video of the fire.

His club and international teammate Ben Chilwell posted a similar message.

One eye witness said: “I saw it all. It was clearly in trouble and only just managed to get over the stadium before it started whirling around and coming down.”

Tim Acott, a Leicester season ticket holder of 40 years, said: "It just came out of the stadium already spinning then down to the ground. Just in a spiral.

"It hit the ground with a big bang then burst into flames. It’s over on the other side of the car park, I don’t think there were people there. I’m shaking like anything."

Srivaddhanaprabha, who owns the King Power company, purchased Leicester in August 2010 and was named chairman in February 2011.

Under his ownership, Leicester won the Premier League title in the 2015-16 season.

He famously went on to gift each player a £100,000 BMW i8 as a gift for the triumph.

In May 2017, Srivaddhanaprabha bought Belgian side OH Leuven.