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.

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.

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.