Leicester City helicopter take-off was ‘not abnormal’

The helicopter carrying the Leicester City owner appeared to be operating normally moments before it crashed, an expert has said.

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others were killed in the crash outside the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Aviation expert David Learmount said a widely shared video showed the aircraft complete an “awkward” take-off without issue before getting into difficulty.

Crash investigators are expected to move the wreckage in the next few days.

As well as Mr Vichai, Nursara Suknamai, Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz also died in the crash.

Mr Learmount said: “At lift-off you can’t see anything that’s abnormal, but it’s an awkward job climbing out of a stadium because ideally you want some forward speed as well as continuing to climb.

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“The pilot climbed very nearly vertically until he was above the height of the stadium and then started to turn to the right – it was very shortly after that control was lost.

“Just after he did a manoeuvre that seemed to be intended, he lost control.”

Attention is focussing on the tail rotor, which stops the fuselage being spun by the force of the main rotor.

A minute’s silence will be held and black armbands will be worn by players at all Premier League matches this weekend as a mark of respect, the Premier League has confirmed.

Leicester players will travel by road to their Premier League game at Cardiff on Saturday rather than fly, as going by plane was felt to be insensitive given the circumstances of Mr Vichai’s death.