Leicester City crash: Claude Puel was not on board fireball helicopter and manager is safe with wife, friend confirms

CLAUDE PUEL was not on board the Leicester owner's helicopter when it crashed in a ball of flames in the club's stadium car park last night, a friend has said.

Unsubstantiated reports suggested the Foxes boss could have been alongside Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha when it left the King Power after a 1-1 draw with West Ham.

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But French newspaper Nice Matin quoted close friend and Monaco coach Gregory Campi as saying Puel was not on board and is safe.

: "I spoke to him last night. Claude and his wife are fine."

Leicester's billionaire owner Srivaddhanaprabha is believed to have been on the eight-seater helicopter when it nosedived 200 yards outside the ground.

Eye-witnesses said the AW169 helicopter spiralled out of control in the air with an apparent problem with the tail fin.

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The billionaire's company King Power has reportedly confirmed Srivaddhanaprabha was on board when a failure upon take off resulted in a fire on board moments before the crash.

A source close to the family told the BBC he was in his helicopter when it crashed.

The firm said it will release a statement later today.

Images taken at the scene show the helicopter engulfed in flames as fans leaving the ground watched on in horror.