The pilot of the plane which carried Emiliano Sala had dropped out of training for his commercial pilot's licence five years ago, it has been revealed.
David Ibbotson began studying in 2012 but dropped out two years later without qualifying after failing to complete his theoretical training, his instructor has confirmed.
Cardiff City striker Sala's body was found in the plane's wreckage in the Channel just off Guernsey two weeks after it crashed. It had been taking the Argentinian to Wales after his £15million move from Nantes. Mr Ibbotson's body has not been found.
The transfer is being investigated by FIFA after a referral by Nantes.
Doctor Stuart E Smith, head of training for the school, told the BBC the pilot had contacted him in 2016 to discuss resuming training, but it was never followed up.
He said: 'It is common for middle-aged private pilots to undertake the CPL theoretical knowledge course so that they may then complete CPL flight training and be able to earn money as a pilot or flight instructor.'
Martin Robinson, chef executive of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, said the organisers were to blame for not checking if Mr Ibbotson was properly qualified.
He said: 'It's the responsibility of the person who organised the flight to have a suitably qualified pilot at the controls and to ensure the pilot had sufficient flying experience for this kind of flight and for the weather conditions that may be encountered.
'Mr Sala would have had no knowledge of David Ibbotson's licence but the person organising it should have known about that. They've let this man down.'
jooimrsz
0
Fact is there was no need to fly that night. A competent pilot would have deferred until the morning. Ice clouds and darkness are not a good mix for a light aircraft.
I will agree [Bear]
Charleses
1
Fact is there was no need to fly that night. A competent pilot would have deferred until the morning. Ice clouds and darkness are not a good mix for a light aircraft.
Runningman
1
The real question is why the plane went down. Old and verging on not being aiworthy plane? Adverse weather suggesting pilot error in taking off? Poor decision in continuing flight in deteriorating conditions, rather than seeking to land in channel islands? Some written exams are no substitute for experience in the air, so writing some exams is not going to make a dodgy pilot safe, nor a safe pilot incompetent.
Possibly
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In ARG and FRA friends team mates say he was very afraid of flying in this small air craft, but agent more or less convinced him. Investigation needed to not re-do. He was UN-intentionally murdered, it's that simple. Shame.
FCBxavi
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It's beginning to sound like the agent paid a unqualified pilot to fly for monetary gain and charge the club for monetary gain..... in my opinion the agent is liable .
LoveHardy
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Someone will be imprisoned over this..
Pearler
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Ok... we've got the point... he made a very costly and bad decision which resulted in the loss of TWO lives. Let's not forget that he also died. I am sure that it was not intentional and his family is mourning the loss