Emiliano Sala: Search for Cardiff City striker and pilot abandoned
The search was called off after a fourth unsuccessful day since the aircraft disappeared off radars on Monday night north of Guernsey - updates from Thursday
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates as the search for Emiliano Sala, a pilot and a missing plane was called off on Thursday afternoon without any trace of the missing Cardiff City striker in the English Channel.
The search was called off after a fourth unsuccessful day since the aircraft disappeared off radars on Monday night north of Guernsey. After officials confirmed that the priority of the search changed from a rescue mission to a recovery operation, a statement from police said that Thursday search will focus on coastal areas of the Channel Islands and northern France, yet this turned up nothing linked to the missing aircraft.
Cardiff City have said that they are “realistic” about the fate of Sala, who joined the club in a £15m deal last weekend, and revelations about the aeroplane that was carrying Sala and pilot Dave Ibbotson continue to emerge, including a voice message left by Sala to his friends in Argentina in the final hours before he disappeared complaining about the condition of the plane and his fear for his safety. Follow the live updates below.
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An aeroplane understood to be carrying new Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala has gone missing off the coast of Alderney, with search efforts attempting to locate the aircraft on Tuesday morning.
Follow the live updates here.
Cardiff City have issued a statement to say the club has not yet confirmed the whereabouts of Emiliano Sala, who joined the club on Saturday in a record deal from Nantes.
They add that they are "very concerned" about the reports emerging in France, and are "seeking clarification" before making any further comment.
A statement from Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman:
We are very concerned by the latest news that a light aircraft lost contact over the Channel last night. We are awaiting confirmation before we can say anything further. We are very concerned for the safety of Emiliano Sala.
Here's what we know so far:
• The light aircraft plane, a Piper Malibu, was travelling from Nantes in western France to Cardiff.
• The plane disappeared from radar over the Channel around 8pm on Monday night, Guernsey police have said.
• Guernsey Coastguard received an alert at 20:23 from Jersey ATC, that a light aircraft had gone off their radar approximately 15 miles north of Guernsey.
• A major search and rescue operation involving both St Peter Port and Alderney lifeboats and Air Search 1 and 2 HM Coastguard helicopters are also involved in a major search.
• The search had to be abandoned late on Monday night due to worsening weather conditions, before resuming at 8am on Tuesday morning.
• The aircraft was flying at 5,000 feet. Upon passing Guernsey, the aircraft requested descent. Jersey ATC lost contact whilst it was flying at 2,300 feet.
• Weather conditions saw "some showers around", according to the Met Office, who added "wind speeds were not too bad - average speeds were around 15 to 20mph".
BREAKINGNantes have announced that their French Cup match due to be staged tomorrow against L'Entente Sannois Saint-Gratien has been postponed in agreement with the French Football Federation.
French agency AFP are reporting that Emiliano Sala was one of two people on board the plane at the time of it's disappearance. according to a police source.
There has not yet been any official confirmation of this, but Cardiff City are looking to clarify the reports as soon as possible.
Police confirmed that search and rescue efforts are underway with the Alderney lifeboat launched at 8.50pm with nothing found when procedures had to be abandoned due to worsening weather in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
A Guernsey Police statement read:
A search model was created on SARIS, based on the likely ditching position, and all search and rescue assets were tasked to the area.
The search was terminated at 02:00, with all search and rescue assets being stood down, due to strengthening winds, worsening sea conditions and reducing visibility. At this time no trace of the missing aircraft had been found.
The aircraft departed Nantes at 1915 for Cardiff. The aircraft was flying at 5000 feet. The aircraft on passing Guernsey requested descent. Jersey ATC lost contact whilst it was flying at 2300 feet.
Sala was travelling from Nantes to Cardiff after agreeing to join the Premier League club on Saturday, having previously visited the Welsh capital to sign his new contract last week.
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