'You changed football forever': Leicester City confirm billionaire owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was among five people killed in helicopter fireball as Kasper Schmeichel pays emotional tribute
- Fans left a sea of flowers, shirts and scarves outside Leicester's stadium as they anxiously waited for news
- The helicopter belonging to owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha crashed outside the stadium, killing him
- Eyewitnesses recalled seeing the aircraft spluttering shortly after taking off from the stadium's centre circle
- The much-loved club owner, 60, was on board with two pilots and two passengers on Saturday night
- Srivaddhanaprabha helped steer 5,000-1 outsiders Leicester to a miracle Premier League triumph in 2016
- It has also been confirmed that Leicester's EFL Cup game against Southampton on Tuesday is postponed
Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha died in the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of four others outside the King Power Stadium on Saturday night, it has been confirmed.
Thousands of supporters flocked to the ground on Sunday, laying hundreds of flowers, shirts, and scarves, in a sign of the depth of feeling for the Thai businessman.
Leicester's players were in a state of shock and posted poignant messages of tribute to the man they call The Boss. Kasper Schmeichel wrote a deeply moving open letter in which he praised Srivaddhanaprabha's passion, generosity, and hard work.
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Supporters paid tribute at Leicester City's stadium following owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's death in a helicopter crash
A sea of scarves and flowers are laid outside the King Power Stadium on Sunday following the helicopter disaster
Fans have returned to the stadium from miles around to pay tribute to those who were been killed in the crash
An aerial view of the crashed helicopter's charred remains shows the aircraft partially covered by a sheet on Sunday
The scene of the crash has been sealed off by police with a sheet covering one end of the helicopter in the stadium's car park
Pedestrians walk past a mural of chairman Srivaddhanaprabha near De Montfort University in Leicester on Sunday
The owner's family often watch the football games together. (From L-R) Leicester City Executive Director Apichet Srivaddhanaprabha, Arunrung, Voramas, Mrs Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, Leciester City Director of Football Jon Rudkin, Leciester City Vice-Chairman Khun Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and Leicester City Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
The helicopter belonging to Leicester owner Srivaddhanaprabha crashed outside the King Power Stadium on Saturday
A graphic shows the locations around the King Power Stadium which the crashed helicopter could have threatened 
Candles, flowers and scarves have been laid out by fans of the football club. West Ham scarves have also been placed
Fans were seen crying at the stadium in the hours following the crash as they nervously waited for news which broke at 10pm
Soft toys and a flag celebrating Leicester's improbable 2016 Premier League title success are laid out on Sunday
A man and a young child lay a Leicester City shirt in a sea of flowers and scarves amid fears for the club owner's life
Specialist police search teams line up to comb the area for clues at the King Power Stadium in Leicester on Sunday
A sea of tributes cover the ground outside the King Power Stadium, Leicester after owner's helicopter crashed on Saturday
Vichai's daughter, Voramas Srivaddhanaprabha (right) is the senior creative and communication manager of the King Power Group. It is not known yet if she was involved in the accident, but sources claim she was not on board at the time of the crash
Srivaddhanaprabha waves to fans after a Premier League clash between Leicester City and Southampton in April 2016
At Selhurst Park fans stood for a minute's applause with the Leicester badge on the screen ahead of Crystal Palace v Arsenal
Burnley and Chelsea players took part in a moment's silence ahead of their Premier League fixture at Turf Moor on Sunday
Manchester United players and their mascot also stood in silence before their game against Everton on Sunday afternoon
Schmeichel was among a group of people who had run towards the accident site and watched on in an evident state of numbness and upset. He joined Leicester the year after Srivaddhanaprabha bought the club in 2010 and enjoyed a close relationship with his chairman. Schmeichel then stayed in the ground until after 1.30am.
'It is difficult to put into words how much you have meant to this football club and to the city of Leicester,' Schmeichel added. 'You cared so deeply for the entire community. Your endless contribution to Leicester's hospitals and charities will never be forgotten.
'Never have I ever come across a man like you. You touched everyone. You changed football. Forever! You gave hope to everyone that the impossible was possible.
'When you signed me back in 2011 you said to me we would be in the Champions League within six years and we would do great things. You inspired me and I believed in you. You literally made my dreams come true.
Following the evening kick-off game on Saturday, the helicopter was seen landing on the centre circle of the pitch
The helicopter took off from the centre circle of the pitch with staff and pundits looking on - but moments later it crashed
Police remain on guard as an investigation takes place into how the helicopter came crashing back down to the ground
Huge plumes of smoke billowed across the night's sky following the crash at around 8.30pm on Saturday evening
It breaks my heart to know I will never see you in the dressing room when I came in early from my warm-up and have a chat about everything and nothing. That you won't be there having fun and laughing with the boys and seeing your infectious smile and enthusiasm that rubbed off on everyone you came into contact with.
'We now have a responsibility as a club, as players, and fans to honour you. From knowing you we do this by being the family you created. By sticking together and supporting those closest to you through this horrendous time.'
Jamie Vardy wrote: 'Struggling to find the right words, but to me you are legend, an incredible man who had the biggest heart, the soul of Leicester City Football Club.
'Thank you for everything you did for me, my family, and our club. I will truly miss you. May you rest in peace.'
Harry Maguire posted: 'Words can't describe how I feel. A truly great, kind, loving man who will be missed so much by everyone. I will never forget the Chairman's support, not only during my time @LCFC but also during the World Cup RIP #TheBoss.
Wes Morgan said: 'Absolutely heartbroken and devastated. A man that was loved and adored by everyone here and someone who I personally had the utmost respect for.'
The EFL confirmed Tuesday's proposed Carabao Cup game against Southampton will be called off and black armbands will be worn at matches over the next seven days.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, Vichai's son and Leicester's vice-chairman, known as Top, flew over from his residence in Bangkok as the club tried to come to terms with the scale of the loss. It is understood two of Vichai's assistants and two pilots were also killed.
Crash site investigators have been going through the wreckage since the tragedy struck at 8.30pm following Leicester's match against West Ham. Formal identification of those on board proved a difficult process.
It is expected the cause of the crash will take time establish. Eye-witnesses told how the Augusta AW169 helicopter, which had landed minutes earlier after arriving from Belvoir Drive training ground, appeared to suffer a malfunction on take-off from the pitch, sending the aircraft into a tailspin just after rising above the stadium's roof. It then plunged nose first into an empty patch of ground adjacent to car park E behind the East Stand and burst into flames visible for half a mile. Nobody was injured on the ground.
Matt Elliott, who captained Leicester to the 2000 League Cup, was said to be deeply shaken after seeing the crash occur. 
A Wolverhampton Wanderers fan laid down his club's shirt which read: 'Divided by colours, united by grief'
It has been suggested that director of football Jon Rudkin had at one stage also planned to be on the flight but ultimately decided against.
The helicopter had been heading for Luton, where Srivaddhanaprabha would have then taken his private jet back to Thailand.
Leicestershire Police cordoned off the crash site on Sunday, and erected white tarpaulin screens to shield the scene. Fire engines arrived, with one carrying a digger.
Fans created a sea of tributes outside the North Stand in response, beginning in the early hours and staying late into the night with the area growing throughout the day. Many stayed to read the notes of condolences and observe quiet reflection for the man responsible for Leicester's miraculous Premier League title victory.
Ashley Richards, a Leicester supporter of 40 years, was visibly moved when saying: 'Vichai virtually fetched us out of the wilderness. It is a big, big loss.'
Martin George, Leicester's former chairman, said: 'It's so sad.
'Vichai has been terrific for this club. You couldn't ask for anybody better in charge. He is a gentleman.'
The outpouring of emotion was not solely due to Srivaddhanaprabha's contributions to Leicester as a football club but also Leicester as a city. He donated £2m to Leicester Royal Infirmary and £1m to Leicester University for medical research, among other charitable acts.
Emergency services are at the scene following the incident and an area surrounding the ground has been closed off
The stadium following the aftermath of the crash on Saturday evening. People were told to stay away from the ground
Srivaddhanaprabhabought the club for £39m in 2010 and the Thai billionaire led them to a Premier League title
Former Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez accepts one of the blue protonic blue BMW I8s that was a gift for the team
Worth £3.8billion according to the latest Forbes account, through his King Power duty free empire in Thailand, he would regularly hand out free drinks to supporters to mark special occasions, and this April gave away 60 season tickets as celebration of his 60th birthday.
He wrote off £103m of club debt by converting it into shares, gave each player a £105,000 royal blue BMWi8 for becoming champions, and regularly sanctioned upgraded contracts for star performers.
Sven Goran Eriksson was hired and fired by Srivaddhanaprabha and said: 'When you know him, as I did, you knew he's a very, very generous man. What he has done for Leicester is incredible.'
Srivaddhanaprabha was overseeing a proposed a new club training ground at a cost of £100m, and had explored the possibility of expanding the King Power Stadium. The area where his helicopter crashed had been earmarked as a potential site to build upon.
It is expected that Top, who has been chief executive of King Power in Thailand for two years and is hands-on with the football side, will take up the Leicester chairmanship reins from his father. His enthusiasm for the club is expected to remain undimmed despite the devastating trauma that occurred on its home.
As well as Top, Srivaddhanaprabha is survived by wife Aimon, his other son Apichet, and daughters Voramas and Aroonroong.
Popular Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha started with a duty free shop in 1989 and will always be the owner that guided club to title
By Nathan Salt for MailOnline
A helicopter belonging to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was engulfed in flames after taking off from the King Power Stadium following his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham.
Srivaddhanaprabha usually departs the King Power inside his private helicopter after home games alongside other members of the club's hierarchy.
Here, Sportsmail profiles Srivaddhanaprabha's success in and out of football, including how he helped Leicester win the Premier League title in 2016.
He is fifth on the Thailand richlist of billionaires and is said to be worth close to £4billion
Srivaddhanaprabha was born in Bangkok on April 4, 1958 to a Thai Chinese family.
The Thai billionaire Srivaddhanaprabha kick-started his business journey by opening a duty free shop back in Bangkok in 1989 at the age of 31.
His retail company, King Power, is now a staple of the country's airports and the brand also have the naming rights to Leicester City's stadium.
Having been the club's primary shirt sponsor for the three previous seasons, he wanted to step up his involvement and opted to go all in and become owner.
Buying the club for a reported £39million in 2010 proved a shrewd investment as he oversaw a meteoric rise which saw the Foxes historically win the Premier League title in 2015-16.
When he took over, the club had just earned promotion from League One, the third tier in the English football pyramid, and with Nigel Pearson trusted to remain in charge, the Foxes were quickly back in the Premier League.
According to Forbes, the Midlands club is now valued at £371m after becoming a staple of the top half in the league under Srivaddhanaprabha's reign.
Ranked as fifth on Forbes' Thailand rich list, Srivaddhanaprabha has built his empire up to a staggering $4.9billion (£3.8bn).
Sportsmail profiles the career of Leicester City's Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
After enjoying rich success with Leicester - which saw them defy all the odds in reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League, Srivaddhanaprabha bought Belgian club OH Leuven in May 2017.
The club reside in the Brlgian second division but could act as a real beneficiary for young players at Leicester in the future.
Srivaddhanaprabha is a keen football supporter and has continued to put money into the Foxes with his son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha involved as club vice-chairman.
He is married to Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, and has four children Voramas, Apichet, Arunroong, and Aiyawatt.
He is popular among players and is regularly in attendance for matches at the King Power
