Concerns over Thai billionaire Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha grew on Sunday as investigators searched the wreckage of a helicopter belonging to the owner of Leicester City that crashed after a match on Saturday night.
Mr Vichai was one of the five people on board the helicopter, which lost control about an hour after the team drew with West Ham United at the King Power Stadium, in the English midlands, according to a person close to the family. But the club and local police did not confirm his death. Official representatives for Mr Vichai were not immediately available for comment, while company headquarters in Bangkok did not respond to a request for comment.
Mr Vichai built his fortune as owner and chairman of King Power, Thailand’s leading operator of duty free stores, making him one of the country’s most prominent businessmen. He is also politically influential, having been close with Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand’s self-exiled former premier and former Manchester City owner.