Aircraft used by Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha fell near football ground

Flowers are being laid at the King Power Stadium after the helicopter used by Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed in flames near the football ground.

The air accident watchdog has launched an investigation into why the aircraft fell to earth in a car park near the stadium a few hours after Leicester drew 1-1 with West Ham.

Witnesses said the helicopter seemed to spiral out of control moments after it set off from Leicester’s King Power Stadium at about 8.30pm on Saturday and plummeted into the car park.

The club’s owner is known for arriving and leaving the stadium in his helicopter at home games.

While the BBC has reported a source close to the family as saying that Mr Vichai was on board the helicopter when it crashed, neither the police not the club have confirmed this.

The tragedy is being described as the “darkest day” in the club’s history, and mourners began laying wreaths near the stadium yesterday morning.

Former England and Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson hailed “very, very generous” Mr Vichai and the “incredible” impact he has had on the club.

Mr Eriksson was the first manager to be hired by the Thai billionaire after he took charge of the club in 2010. And the Swede told BBC Radio Five Live: “It’s frightening news.

“I saw the news, of course, this morning and I still hope it’s not true and he’s alive, of course.

“I knew the whole family and the father. When you know him, as I did, you knew he’s a very, very generous man – to the players, the staff and people working for him, with the fans and the community. He’s an extremely generous man.”

Bouquets, flags and football shirts have been left outside the ground by members of the public on Sunday morning alongside an image of the Hindu god Ganesh which was also propped up amid the flowers.

A small candle was placed in front of the flowers as people gathered to pray for anybody who may have been on the helicopter.

Messages from Leicester fans on the flowers included “In our thoughts!!” and “Thank you xx”.

One fan left a card of a fox with their flowers which read: “Thinking of you all.”

Self-made Thai billionaire Mr Vichai was very highly thought of in the city after he bought the Foxes for £39 million in 2010, and became chairman the following February.

Under his ownership the club rose out of the Championship and eventually won the Premier League for the first time in its history in 2015-16, defying odds of 5,000-1.

The 60-year-old was also praised for his charity work, donating £2m towards a new children’s hospital.

Leicestershire Police has said the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) will now be leading the investigation into the circumstances of the helicopter crash.

The AAIB confirmed that its investigators had been deployed at the site.

A spokesman added: “A team from the AAIB has been deployed to the site and is investigating. Anyone with information that might be helpful to the investigation is asked to contact the police.”

In a statement released early yesterday, the police said: “The aircraft came down in a car park near the stadium shortly after 8.30pm on Saturday 27 October with Leicestershire Police, East Midlands Ambulance Service and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service all responding to the incident.

“A cordon is currently in place at the scene to enable the AAIB to examine the area and complete their initial enquiries.

“Leicestershire Police will be supporting the AAIB in its investigation, liaising closely with Leicester City Football Club as enquiries continue.”

It has not been confirmed how many people were in the helicopter or how serious their injuries are, and it is not clear whether anyone on the ground was affected.