BREAKING: Plane carrying Emiliano Sala & its pilot has been found after underwater search
The plane that was carrying missing Premier League footballer Emiliano Sala has been found, his family has been told.
A search boat located the wreckage on the seabed of the English Channel this morning.
The Piper Malibu N264DB carrying 28-year-old Argentinian Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, 59, disappeared over the Channel on January 21 after leaving Nantes in France for Cardiff.
An official search operation was called off on January 24 after Guernsey's harbour master Captain David Barker said the chances of survival following such a long period were "extremely remote".
But a privately funded search for the plane resumed this morning.
Argentinian striker Sala was signed by Cardiff for a club record £15million.
Fans paid tribute yesterday by laying scarfs, daffodils and caps ahead of their clash with Bournemouth, their first home game since Sala vanished. They won 2-0.
David Mearns, on behalf of the Sala's family, confirmed the wreckage was located by his ship earlier.
Teams from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) have now moved into location at the site to recover the aircraft.
"The families of Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson have been notified by police," Mr Mearns said.
"Tonight our sole thoughts are with the families and friends of Emiliano and David."
Mr Mearns had been coordinating a privately-funded search, after £324,000 was raised in an online appeal.
Officials at the AAIB said they expected to give an update on the operation on Monday morning (CET).
Pero24
544
On behalf of all United fans, we wish Emiliano Sala family well. Amen.
EpaphrasDaniel
484
RIP Sala. Forever a BlueBird. Forever in our hearts you will be. 😭😭😭
Original_Davido
340
now his family can find their peace.... so sad 😢🙏🏾
liverpoli
294
Let's hope for Sala
Danzil_Zolt
286
I'm positive that Sala and the pilot are very much alive because two plane seats were missing from the plane according to their previous search, which means there are possibly two survivors which might be Sala and the pilot. Let's just keep our hopes high and finger crossed
tropicalda
238
The wreckage of the plane carrying Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson has been found. A tragic, heartbreaking story, but hopefully this will provide a little clarity for the victims friends and family’s. Can’t imagine what they are feeling right now. RIP to both. 😔
Nesaiknruy_Legend
172
I hope they weren't in the plane in the underwater search as it would still leave hope for them both to be found... prayers with them. Hope they end up being safe.
Jimaikotu
142
This great new is delivered to the intire world, by the hand of the most high and merciful, God if heaven, let's all pray and ask God, to deliver Salas and the pilot back to us, in what ever form dead or alive, it's his duty to come to the aid of man when his reasoning cannot go beyond, within me I have hope that Salas and the pilot are some where and alive, God would have shown us through our able searching team, indicators of no life survival in That plan, but only allowed a man made machine to be found, what he treasures most is kept somewhere in his hands. That is the God I worship, thank you Jesus
mubblmpyz
62
First and foremost, we thank God for even setting eyes on the plane, irrespective of the outcome. Also l know these men has a clue of what has happen to sala and David,they are just waiting for the appropriate time to confirm that either sala and David are alive or dead. There was a case in Egypt when a man killed his wife and buried his children a live but after three weeks they were found still alive. There is nothing that is too hard for God to do. Until they are confirmed dead l still believed that they are still alive. But if reversed is the case, I will also thank God. I will attributes their death to the inability to used the right people or team for the search at the beginning.