Leicester City chairman, pilot named among five victims of helicopter crash

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Leicester City football club owner, has been confirmed dead alongside four others after his helicopter crashed on Saturday.

According to police, other passengers were two members of the Leicester City chairman’s staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare.

The pilot, Eric Swaffer, and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz, were also among.

The club on Sunday released a statement confirming those killed in the crash.

“It is with the deepest regret and a collective broken heart that we confirm our Chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was among those to have tragically lost their lives on Saturday evening when a helicopter carrying him and four other people crashed outside King Power Stadium. None of the five people on-board survived,” the statement read.

Describing the late businessman and others as a great loss to the club, Leicester announced the cancellation of its midweek fixtures as a mark of respect.

“The primary thoughts of everyone at the Club are with the Srivaddhanaprabha family and the families of all those on-board at this time of unspeakable loss,” the club said.

“A book of condolence, which will be shared with the Srivaddhanaprabha family, will be opened at King Power Stadium from 8am on Tuesday 30 October for supporters wishing to pay their respects.

“Both Tuesday’s First Team fixture against Southampton in the EFL Cup and the Development Squad fixture against Feyenoord in the Premier League International Cup have been postponed.”

The club’s players and several other European clubs have been reacting to the news, including Nigerian international, Wilfred Ndidi, who described Vichai as “kind as supportive”.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha bought Leicester in 2010 for £90 million and the club won the EPL title in the 2015/16 season.