FOXES’ ACE PILOT SAVED SO MANY
Crash death toll ‘nearly much worse’
A HERO pilot averted an even bigger disaster in the fireball helicopter crash that killed Premier League Leicester City’s billionaire owner.
Thai businessman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 61, his two assistants and two pilots died when the private chopper plunged into the King Power Stadium car park.
But witnesses say it appeared as if the pilot managed to prevent the helicopter crashing on the road or nearby homes and causing even more casualties.
A Holiday Inn hotel, restaurant, two car dealerships and a children’s play centre are also close to the ground.
Most football fans had left the stadium when the helicopter crashed on Saturday.
But there was still a large crowd in the area when it came down at about 8.30pm.
Sky Sports News cameraman Dan Cox said: “I don’t know how the pilot did it but he seemed to manage to slow down the spinning rotation and it drifted off into the corner part of the car park.
“The pilot was a hero and two police officers in front of me, who tried to help, they are heroes too.”
The daughter of Vichai, 37-year-old Voramas, was initially feared to have been on board, but it later emerged she was not.
The eight-seater £2million helicopter had flown from the pitch live on TV soon after a home game against West Ham.
Footage appeared to capture the sound of the Augusta Westland AW-169 crashing as BT Sports pundits discussed the match.
Spiralled
Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel rushed to the scene and was seen in tears as the horror unfolded.
England and ex-Leicester legend Peter Shilton saw it happen “right in front of us” as he left the game, which finished 1-1.
Witnesses described the chilling scenes as the aircraft spiralled out of control.
Photographer Ryan Brown said: “The engine stopped and made a bit of a whirring noise. Blades started spinning and then there was a big bang.”
Tim Acott said: “It just came out of the stadium already spinning, then it hit the ground.”
John Butcher said: “It did spiral for a little while and everybody scattered.”
Tributes poured in for the owner, who helped Leicester to an amazing Premier League triumph in 2016.
Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson – appointed in 2010 and in charge for a year – was the first manager to be hired by Vichai after he took charge at Leicester.
He said the owner was “a very, very generous man – to the players, the staff and people working for him, the fans and the community.”
Hundreds of shocked fans began laying wreaths, cards, scarves and football shirts near the stadium yesterday.
John Voisey, 59, a council officer, said: “It feels like losing a member of the family.”
And Karen Kennell, 60, a primary school teacher, said: “He’s contributed so much to the club and the city. It’s so, so sad.”
City’s manager Claude Puel said: “It is a tragedy for the club. All of my thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
Police said inquiries into the crash will continue over the coming days.