Emiliano Sala’s family slam aviation authority for not recovering wreckage from Channel after fatal plane crash

• The 28-year-old Argentinian was killed when plane crashed on January 21, 2019
• His body was recovered on February 6 and post-mortem examination carried out
• Inquest in Bournemouth today heard how plane will not be recovered from sea
• Decision in direct opposition of footballer’s family who say wreck could be useful

The family of tragic footballer Emiliano Sala has slammed the aviation authority for not recovering the plane wreckage from the Channel following his death.    

The 28-year-old Argentinian was killed when the plane he was travelling in crashed north of Guernsey on January 21.

His body was recovered on February 6 and a post-mortem examination was carried out but the body of the pilot, David Ibbotson, 59, whose widow Nora attended the hearing, has not been found.

A pre-inquest review held in Bournemouth heard that the wreckage of the plane in which footballer Emiliano Sala was killed in will not be recovered from the sea despite the wishes of the family to do otherwise, an inquest heard today.

Emiliano Sala and his pilot David Ibbotson were exposed to fatal levels of carbon monoxide in the private plane that crashed into the Channel on January 21 this year, a bombshell report by the UK’s Air Accident branch  revealed

The wreckage of the Piper Malibu still sits at the bottom of the Channel (pictured in February) – 220ft down – and Sala’s family say news of his poisoning means it must be recovered for more investigation

Sala’s body was recovered from the wreckage of the plane more than 22 miles off Guernsey in early February – blood tests carried out in Britain revealed he was poisoned and the missing pilot would have been too

An official for the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed they did not intend to lift the Pipa Malibu light aircraft from the seabed as it was not necessary for their investigations.

This was in direct opposition to the family of the 28-year-old footballer who believe a proper examination of the wreckage could yield more clues as to why it crashed on January 21.

Matthew Reeve, the lawyer representing the Argentinian’s family, also questioned why a blood sample taken from Mr Sala’s body in February was not tested for carbon monoxide until four months later.

A preliminary AAIB report into the aircraft crash that killed Mr Sala and pilot David Ibbotson revealed the footballer had been exposed to deadly levels of carbon monoxide poisoning before the plane plunged into the English Channel.

Mr Reeve said: ‘The family disagree with the decision not to salvage the aircraft and wish to notify the coroner that on October 22 a survey took place near the site which reveals the wreckage has moved and may not remain in place for much longer.

‘The family have questions about why the initial blood tests conducted on Mr Sala in February did not test for carbon monoxide and what caused them to be tested for it in June.’

Mr Reeve was replying to comments made by Geraint Herbert, of the AAIB, who said that it was not safe to recover the plane wreckage.

He said: ‘Recovering an aircraft from the sea poses different challenges to on land.

‘It is quite a simple aircraft and in the circumstances we do not believe we need to recover the aircraft.

‘It would be difficult to find out whether the damage to the plane was caused pre-impact or by subsequent deterioration in the sea.

‘We have to consider the safety of the divers and the practicality of it.’

A van by the Geo Ocean III specialist search vessel docked in Portland, Dorset, which brought back the body recovered from the wreckage of the plane carrying Sala, on February 7

David Ibbotson (pictured with wife Nora) was flying the Piper Malibu light aircraft carrying the 28-year-old Cardiff City signing but it has now been claimed he was not allowed to fly at night

The pre-inquest review held in Bournemouth Dorset, was attended by Nora Ibbotson, the wife of the 59-year-old pilot whose body has not been found.

The hearing heard that the AAIB completed its report into the fatal crash on Monday and hope to publish it next February.

A criminal investigation for manslaughter that is being carried out by Dorset Police in ongoing as is a probe by the Civil Aviation Authority.

There isn’t expected to be any updates on these investigations until next April.

Dorset Police Detective Inspector Simon Huxter said: ‘The investigation continues and we have not reached a conclusion and therefore we are still conducting enquiries to establish whether there is any evidence of criminality.’

A 64-year-old man from Yorkshire has previously been arrested on suspicions of manslaughter in relation to Mr Sala’s death and is on bail.

Keith Morton, representing the Civil Aviation Authority, said: ‘We are reluctant to give an update as to when our investigation will be completed but we hope to be able to give an update in April.’

Rachael Griffin, the senior coroner for Dorset, adjourned the inquest until March 16 for another pre-inquest review.

She has requested updates from the respective authorities by February 14.

She said: ‘I request updates from the police, Air Accident Investigation Branch and the Civil Aviation Authority by no later than February 14 next year by which point it is hoped the Air Accident Investigation report will be published.

‘I wish to send my condolences to the families of Mr Sala and Mr Ibbotson.’

Fans look at the flowers placed outside Cardiff City Stadium in tribute to Sala – who never played for his new club – on February 2

A post mortem examination has revealed Mr Sala died of head and chest injuries when the light aircraft crashed in the sea 22 miles off Guernsey.

The Piper PA-46 Malibu plane was taking him from Nantes in France to Cardiff following his record £15million transfer to the Welsh club when it plunged into the water. It sank in 220ft of water.

Mr Sala’s body was found on February 6 and brought to Portland, Dorset, on February 7 when he was officially pronounced deceased.

The Argentinian striker was identified using finger print evidence analysed by an expert Christopher Bradbury.

Home Office Forensic pathologist Basil Purdue carried out a post mortem examination which confirmed the cause of death as ‘head and trunk injuries’.

Toxicology tests found Mr Sala had potentially fatal levels of caroxyhaemoglobin – formed in the blood when exposed to carbon monoxide – in his blood.

The AAIB said carbon monoxide poisoning could reduce a pilot’s ability to fly a plane by causing symptoms including impaired judgement and blurred vision.

This has prompted lawyers for the Sala family to call for the plane to be recovered from the sea to be investigated.

FIFA have ruled that Cardiff City must pay the first instalment of £5.2m or face a transfer embargo. 

Timeline: How the Sala tragedy unfolded over the English Channel

January 21, 2019:

The single-turbine engine Piper PA-46 Malibu leaves Nantes at 7.15pm for Cardiff and is flying at an altitude of 5,000ft. At 8.50pm the plane disappears from radar in the English Channel.

January 22:

The French civil aviation authority confirms Argentinian footballer Emiliano Sala, 28, who had just signed for Cardiff City, was on board the light aircraft. Piloting the plane was David Ibbotson, from Crowle, near Scunthorpe.

January 24:

Guernsey’s harbour master Captain David Barker says the chances Sala and Mr Ibbotson have survived is ‘extremely remote’.  

January 26:

It emerges that football agent Willie McKay arranged for the flight to take Sala to Cardiff but he says he had no involvement in selecting the plane or pilot. He also backs calls for the search to continue.

January 27:

Relatives and friends of Sala arrive in Guernsey, having enlisted the help of shipwreck hunting expert David Mearns. 

January 28:

Sala’s family, including his mother Mercedes and sister Romina, take a chartered flight in a plane operated by Guernsey airline Aurigny over the area where the plane disappeared.

January 30:

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) says two seat cushions found washed up earlier in the week near Surtainville on the Cotentin Peninsula are likely to have come from the plane carrying Sala and his pilot.

February 3:

Wreckage of the plane is located in a fresh, privately funded search which was made possible after a fundraising campaign saw more than £260,000 donated.

Feburary 4:

A body is visible in seabed video footage of the wreckage of the plane. The AAIB says the footage was filmed using an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) which was surveying the area after the plane was located.

February 6:

A body seen in the wreckage of the plane is recovered. The AAIB says the body will be taken to Portland to be passed over to the Dorset coroner for examination.

The aircraft remains 67 metres underwater 21 miles off the coast of Guernsey. The AAIB says attempts to recover the aircraft wreckage were unsuccessful and, due to continued poor weather forecast, ‘the difficult decision was taken to bring the overall operation to a close’.

February 7:

The Geo Ocean III search boat returns to dock in Portland, Dorset, carrying the wreckage of the Piper Malibu aircraft. Investigators wait to confirm if the body inside the wreckage is that of the pilot or the Argentinian footballer – and identified him using his fingerprints.

June 5: 

Two people charged over a photograph taken in a mortuary of footballer Emiliano Sala that was posted on social media. 

June 19: 

David Henderson, 64, from York, arrested on suspicion of manslaughter by an unlawful act. He was later released under investigation.

August 14:

An interim report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch reveals tests on Sala’s body have found enough evidence of carbon monoxide to cause a heart attack, seizure or unconsciousness

October 6: 

The wreckage of the plane which crashed into the English Channel killing football Emiliano Sala has washed away, an inquest has heard.

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