Charlie Smith
A BODY has been found in the underwater wreckage of the plane carrying Premier League player Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson.
The search for the missing Piper Malibu plane the pair were travelling on began on Sunday, almost two weeks after it went missing over the English Channel.
The sighting of the unidentified corpse was confirmed by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) on Monday morning.
An AAIB statement said: “The remotely operated vehicle (ROV) carried out a further search of the area overnight, but did not identify any additional pieces of wreckage.
“Tragically, in video footage from the ROV, one occupant is visible amidst the wreckage.
“The AAIB is now considering the next steps, in consultation with the families of the pilot and passenger, and the police.”
Sala, the 28-year-old Argentine, who began his career in Spain had joined Cardiff City in a record transfer of €17m.
But after the forward said goodbye to his teammates at French side Nantes and flew to Wales his flight disappeared near Guernsey.
The gruesome find comes after a private rescue effort by Sala’s family, which raised €371,000, including a €30,000 donation from PSG forward Kylian Mbappe.
Sala’s footballing skills were first spotted in 2009 when he lived in Granada and was scouted for Portuguese side FC Crato.
More to follow…
