Leicester owner’s wife, son visit memorial
The wife and son of the deceased owner of Premier League soccer team Leicester have laid a floral tribute outside the stadium.
The wreath joined hundreds of scarves, jerseys and messages left by fans at the King Power Stadium close to where Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s helicopter went down on Saturday.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha is vice chairman of Leicester, the 2016 Premier League champion. It was his first appearance along with his mother, Aimon, since the crash.
Vichai, the Thai billionaire owner of retail company King Power, and four other people died when the helicopter spiraled out of control as it left the stadium following a Premier League game.
Meanwhile, authorities say a digital flight data recorder has been recovered from the Leicester soccer team owner’s helicopter.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch says inspectors “will start working on the recorder, which was subject to intense heat as a result of the post-accident fire.”
In a statement, the AAIB says inspectors are expected to remain on the site at Leicester’s stadium until the end of the week when the wreckage is expected to be transported to specialist facilities for a detailed examination.
The AAIB has inspectors on site with specialism on engineering, operations, flight data and human factors.
Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four other people died when the helicopter spiraled out of control as it left the King Power Stadium following a Premier League game on Saturday.
Leicester players visit memorial
Leicester’s soccer squad has visited the growing memorial to the team’s owner outside the stadium.
The players walked around the perimeter of jerseys, scarves and flowers that has formed at the King Power Stadium since Saturday’s helicopter crash claimed the lives of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Vichai’s son, walked into the middle of the makeshift memorial to applause from fans.
FIFA president Infantino offers condolences
FIFA President Gianni Infantino sent his condolences to the friends and families of Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and the four other victims who perished in a helicopter crash.
In a Twitter post attributed to Infantino, FIFA says it “extends its deepest sympathies to their families & friends & to the many football fans for whom Vichai was an integral member of The Foxes family.”
Srivaddhanaprabha, a Thai businessman, was killed in Saturday’s crash, which occurred near the soccer team’s stadium following a Premier League match. It had become a club tradition for the owner to leave after games in a helicopter taking off from the center circle.
FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura wrote on Twitter that “Vichai’s kindness, passion for football, Leicester & its people touched hearts of many.”
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement that “European football is deeply saddened to hear of the tragic deaths of the owner of Leicester City, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and the other four people who lost their lives.”
Prince William offers condolences
Prince William has offered his condolences to the family of the owner of the Leicester soccer club and the four others who perished in a helicopter crash.
William says his “thoughts today are with the family and friends of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and all the victims” in the helicopter, which went down next to the stadium on Saturday.
The prince, who is the president of the English Football Association, says he had known the 60-year-old retail entrepreneur for several years. William says Srivaddhanaprabha “made such a big contribution to football, not least through Leicester City’s magical 2016 season that captured the imagination of the world. He will be missed by all fans of the sport and everyone lucky enough to have known him.”
EFL Cup tie postponed
Leicester City have announced that today’s EFL Cup tie against Southampton has been postponed, following the death of chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
In a statement, the club also revealed details of a book of condolence which will be left at the stadium for fans to sign from 8am this morning.