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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Claudio Ranieri, currently with Fulham, managed Sala last season at Nantes, and the Italian has spoken of the player's wonderful character.
"He's a fantastic footballer who always gave his best when we worked together in France," the former Leicester manager said.
"Like everyone else, I was devastated to hear the news this morning that Emiliano was on board the aircraft.
"Emiliano is a wonderful character. Knowing him as a person, he's a fighter.
"In the meantime, I - along with the Nantes and Fulham families - pray for Emiliano and his family."
Sala's former team-mate kDiego Carlos has posted his prayers for the Argentine.
Felipe Saad, who played with Sala at Caen, has paid tribute to his former team-mate.
"He was a lovable, generous fellow. He always believed that football was a team sport. I am so shaken," Saad told L'Equipe.
"His move to Cardiff was going to bring him the recognition he deserved, albeit belatedly. He so deserved his talent to be recognised."
A fresh update from Guernsey Police on the four possibilities on the search for Emiliano Sala:
A statement read: "We are searching based on four possibilities:
"1. They have landed elsewhere but not made contact.
"2. They landed on water, have been picked up by a passing ship but not made contact
"3. They landed on water and made it into the life raft we know was on board
"4. The aircraft broke up on contact with the water, leaving them in the sea.
"Our search area is prioritised on the life raft option. More updates as information becomes available."
Sala's compatriot and Bordeaux star Valentin Vada has pleaded with the Cardiff forward to appear.
"Come on bro, appear please," Vada wrote on social media.
Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman insists there are no plans currently to rearrange their match vs Arsenal next week as the search for new signing Emiliano Sala continues after his plane's disappearance.
The Blue Birds next face the Gunners at the Emirates on Tuesday, 29 January.
But despite the concern from the club, Dalman believes the game will go ahead as planned.
Dalman said: "I would be very surprised if there's any change to the schedule."
Cardiff have confirmed they did not arrange for Emiliano Sala's flight which disappeared on Monday night.
Chairman Mehmet Dalman told BBC Radio Wales: "We will not leave a single stone unturned until we have all the facts."
Dalman then added Sala had "made his own arrangements" to return to Wales.
Guernsey Police have confirmed there is still no sign of evidence of the missing plane.
An update was posted at 11:30: "There are currently three planes and one helicopter in the air.
"We are also reviewing satellite imagery and mobile phone data to see if they can be of any assistance in the search.
"So far today nothing spotted can be attributed to the missing plane."
Pilot David Henderson, who was wrongly attributed to have been the on board the plane with Emiliano Sala has previously described the danger of flying the Piper Malibu PA-46.
Henderson told the BBC in 2015 about the dangers of ice build-up and that if it became too great on the propeller and wings, it would ultimately not fly.
The plane may have descended to attempt to get rid of the ice in warmer air.
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