Helicopter crash at King Power Stadium

[Cornpattbuck]

It sounds like they're still trying to identify the fifth person who was on board. They'd obviously want to inform family first before making a public announcement.

Of course, that's completely fair.

Just presumed Leicester officials would already know exactly who was on board and there'd probably be footage too.

Would just help to stop people speculating, which as we've seen with Sky and the usual internet trolls can make a horrible situation worse...

P.S. But completely appreciate there is a sensitivity to releasing any such info.

 

[peteblue]

A sad day for football. Forget about rivalries and like or dislike for any club, this tragedy brings it all in to prospective, football is only a game. Condolences to the family and friends of those who were on board.

 

[Sweetsman]

Saw on the Guardian that the owner was on board, but no other members of the family. There were no survivors, and it was noticeable that there was a tarpaulin over the front of the helicopter, suggesting there were bodies inside. It was an inferno, so it is likely the bodies are charred beyond recognition and they'll have to use different methods of identification such as dental records.

 

[mark87]

Leicester chairman confirmed as one of five people killed in crash.

Edit: also, two of his staff and two pilot's. Although have yet to been identified, the police confirm these were the people that would have been on board.

 

[wrd]

Really sad, I feel a bit weird I went to uni at Leicester and lived a minutes walk from the stadium, you could hear the roar during games, made our title battle that little bit more interesting for me but this is terribly sad, that title run united a very multicultural city and this tragedy will always be in the back of my mind. He was a great owner and I just feel terrible this has happened to him.

 

[nedley]

Just so terribly sad. My heart goes out to LCFC and all those affected.

 

[VanZan]

Kind of bizarre that they're taking so long to confirm things.....could there be something criminal involved?

 

[mark87]

Kind of bizarre that they're taking so long to confirm things.....could there be something criminal involved?

First and foremost informing the families is far more important and so waited a day before confirming to the public.

 

[wrd]

Kind of bizarre that they're taking so long to confirm things.....could there be something criminal involved?

Not at all, It's because they have to correctly identify the people on-board, who aren't all british nationals and it's difficult given the circumstances similar to glenfell because of what happens to the bodies. They then have to report it to their family first before announcing on the news.

 

[JCRD]

Its hugely sad

I would also like to think that people also think of the pilots also. The Chairman et al will be focused on but the pilots should also be remembered given I suspect they prevented an even bigger travesty

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

Sky Sports Twitter feed was a disgrace too.

First they reported on it as if it was a breaking transfer story, next thing they speculated 8 people on the helicopter (including Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha), next they stated that neither Srivaddhanaprabha or John Ruskin were on the helicopter, then that tweet disappeared and it was back to not knowing how many were on board.

Forget respect for the families and people who this REALLY affects just keep taking rumours as accurate info why don't you? There was lots of other football 'news' accounts using the news for hits. It was disgusting.

Sadly the days of having a story confirmed before running it seem behind us. All that matters is likes, retweet’s and page hits. I’m sure proper old school journalists pull their hair out when things like this happen.

 

[Danfunkel]

Awful. RIP.

 

[Metalhead]

Its hugely sad

I would also like to think that people also think of the pilots also. The Chairman et al will be focused on but the pilots should also be remembered given I suspect they prevented an even bigger travesty

Couldn't agree more.

 

[freeeki]

Awful news. Really feel for the club and their fans.

Thankfully Vichai’s son, who I believe is the vice chairman of the club, wasn’t on board, meaning the club will most likely pass in to his control rather than having to be sold off.

Will hopefully be of some comfort to all at the club knowing that his legacy may live on and the project be continued.

 

[Ossie85]

Very sad news

Respect to the pilot Eric Swaffer who apparently fought to steer the helicopter away from the crowd outside the stadium. It could've been much worse if it weren't for him

 

[nailsy]

RIP to all five people who died in the crash.

 

[nailsy]

There's been so much false reporting on this. Some of the foreign news agencies were reporting that Vichai's wife and daughter were also on board, one of the local radio stations said there were eight fatalities, Sky said the DOF was on board, the BBC reporter mentioned the manager....

 

[Metalhead]

RIP to all five people who died in the crash.

Absolutely. Understandably the focus is on the Chairman because of the amazing rapport that he had with the fans but I can't help but also think of the pilot and the other people on board as well. Very sad.

 

[Saoirse]

There's been so much false reporting on this. Some of the foreign news agencies were reporting that Vichai's wife and daughter were also on board, one of the local radio stations said there were eight fatalities, Sky said the DOF was on board, the BBC reporter mentioned the manager....

It's a really tough balancing act. Obviously they delayed the announcement to ensure all the family's were aware first and to repsect the formalities in Thailand which is entirely understandable. But it does inevitably lead to that speculation which must be very distressing to others when the club almost certainly knew exactly who was on the helicopter from the start. I think in the modern environment they're inevitably going to have to move to confirming these details anywhere even at the risk of loved ones finding out via the media as the lesser of two evils unfortunately.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Someone was filming the take off on their phone, the footage is on Reddit now - it's from inside the stadium, no gore, you just see it take off, clear the roof then spin out and plummet out of sight



Sad day man.