Search called off for plane carrying Emiliano Sala

The sister of Argentinian footballer Emiliano Sala has begged rescue workers to keep looking for his missing plane after the search was formally called off.

An emotional Romina Sala, speaking in Spanish, told reporters in Cardiff that she feels her brother and his pilot are still alive.

Ms Sala had flown over from her home country after a light aircraft carrying her brother and pilot Dave Ibbotson disappeared from radar on Monday night.

The rescue workers called off the search for the missing plane today.

Guernsey’s harbour master, Captain David Barker, said that the chances Sala and pilot David Ibbotson had survived were “extremely remote”.

There has been no sign of the aircraft since it disappeared from radar over the English Channel on Monday night.

After scanning thousands of square miles and reviewing all “information available” the “difficult decision to end the search” was taken, Captain Barker said.

“The chances of survival at this stage are extremely remote,” he added.

“Next of kin have been informed of this development, and my thoughts go out to the family of the pilot and passenger at this most difficult of times.”

Rescue teams scanned around 1,700 square miles and examined mobile phone data and satellite imagery but had not found “any trace” of the plane, Captain Barker said.

There has been more than 24 hours of continuous searching, with 80 hours combined flying time across three planes and five helicopters.

Two lifeboats were also involved and help was provided by passing ships and fishing boats.

Captain Barker added: “The final aircraft searching for the missing plane and those on board has now landed.

“Although we are no longer actively searching, the incident remains open and we will be broadcasting to all vessels and aircraft in the area to keep a look out for any trace of the aircraft.

“This will continue indefinitely.”

Police on the island, which sits off the north coast of France, had earlier announced a resumption of the search after suspending efforts overnight.

Officials scoured the uninhabited island of Burhou, northeast of Guernsey, by foot this morning, according to the force.

“No trace of the aircraft or those on board has been found,” it added.

Multiple aircraft, including from Britain and France, and lifeboats were used in the intensive search on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sala, who signed on Saturday from French club Nantes for a reported fee of €17m (£15m), was flying to Cardiff in a single-engine Piper PA-46 Malibu aircraft.

Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), which is probing the disappearance, said the plane was registered in the United States.

It has emerged the Argentine footballer expressed concerns about the jet on the flight, according to an audio message sent to friends and relatives.

“I’m on a plane that looks like it’s going to fall apart,” the 28-year-old said in a rambling WhatsApp audio message from on board.

Police earlier said rescuers had spotted “a number of floating objects in the water” but had not been able to confirm whether these were linked to the plane.

Football agent Mark McKay confirmed today he was involved in making the travel arrangements for Sala between France and Wales through the player and his agent Meissa N’Diaye.

“I began to look into arranging a private flight to take him to Nantes on Saturday morning,” he told Britain’s Sky Sports News.

“That evening, it was confirmed a plane was available to fly Emiliano on Saturday which could remain in Nantes until he was due to return to Cardiff.

“I have been in contact with officials from Cardiff and the player’s agent over these difficult past few days and will continue to do so.”

In Sala’s Argentine hometown of Progreso, his father Horacio told the press on Tuesday that as “the hours go by and I don’t know anything, it makes me fear the worst”.

The striker, who had been at Nantes since 2015 and had scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, had signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with relegation-threatened Cardiff subject to receiving international clearance.

The club called off Tuesday’s training session, and stunned supporters laid flowers and scarves outside the club’s stadium.

Tributes were paid to Sala at several French Cup matches this week, while his former Nantes teammate Yacine Bammou pointed towards the sky in an emotional celebration after scoring for Caen on Wednesday.