This missing private plane containing Cardiff footballer Emiliano Sala was chartered by the family of one of Britain's top agents who had a hand in the £15million deal, it emerged today.
Scottish-born Willie McKay, who lives in Monaco, is not Sala's representative but his son Mark is said to have helped with brokering the transfer between Cardiff and Nantes as well as his flight for his first day at training in Wales.
Mr McKay Sr is one of Britain's best known football agents and has made millions helping top French stars move to England's top leagues.
The privately-owned Piper Malibu aircraft, registered to a company in Norfolk, appears to have crashed into the sea near Alderney on Monday night with rescuers today revealing there is 'no hope' of survival.
Today Cardiff City's chairman Mehmet Dalman revealed that their new star, just signed for £15million from FC Nantes, turned down a commercial flight from Paris and chose to take a private plane instead.
Mr Sala's heartbroken underwear model ex-girlfriend today blamed the 'football mafia' after his plane vanished over the Channel and said: 'I can't believe this is an accident'.
Victoria's Secret star Berenice Schkair, 27, made the extraordinary claim on social media after the new Cardiff City star's plane went missing over the English Channel after taking off in Nantes, France.
David Ibbotson, 60, was reportedly at the controls of the privately-owned Piper Malibu aircraft believed to have crashed into the sea near the Channel Island of Alderney on Monday night.
Sala and his pilot last made contact from their Piper FA-46 Malibu at 8.30pm on Monday and the pair are missing presumed dead after wreckage was spotted in the sea.
