January 25 – Rescue workers have finally called off their search for the missing light aircraft carrying Cardiff City’s new striker Emiliano Sala to the Premier league club which says it will plan a special mark of respect next week.
Guernsey authorities said that the chances Sala and his pilot David Ibbotson had survived were “extremely remote”.
The aircraft, which was taking Argentine-born Sala to Cardiff after being signed from Nantes, has been missing 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 to end the search.
Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo said a special tribute would be held before the home game against Arsenal on Tuesday and again at the home match against Bournemouth on February 2. The Premier League confirmed there would be a moment of silence during all matches next week as a mark of respect for Sala and Ibbotson, the only two people on the flight.
Sala, 28, was en route to Cardiff for his first training session with the club after being signed for a reported club record €17 million.
Meantime, a probe into whether the missing flight was properly licensed has been launched by air accident Investigators.
Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority said the aircraft was registered in the US, so fell under its regulations. “We are looking at all operational aspects of the flight including licensing,” a spokesman said.
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