WRECKAGE of the plane that was carrying Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson has been located, according to search authorities.
David Mearns, who oversaw a private underwater search in the English Channel over the weekend, took to Twitter on Sunday night to share news that the missing aircraft had been found by the by survey vessel FPV Morven.
Wreckage of the plane carrying Emiliano Sala and piloted by David Ibbotson was located early this morning by the FPV MORVEN. As agreed with the AAIB they moved the GEO OCEAN III over the position we provided them to visually identify the plane by ROV. #EmilianoSala
— David Mearns (@davidlmearns) February 3, 2019
The families of Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson have been notified by Police. The AAIB will be making a statement tomorrow. Tonight our sole thoughts are with the families and friends of Emiliano and David. #EmilianoSalas #NoDejenDeBuscarAEmilianoSala
— David Mearns (@davidlmearns) February 3, 2019
He added that the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) had moved the survey vessel Geo Ocean III to the location and will make a statement tomorrow.
“Tonight our sole thoughts are with the families and friends of Emiliano and David,” said Mearns.
Sala, 28, and Ibbotson had not been seen or heard from since January 21, when their Piper PA-46 Malibu aircraft went missing over the English Channel.
The Argentine striker had been on his way to South Wales to meet up with his new Cardiff City teammates after completing a club record £15million transfer from French club Nantes.