Emiliano Sala: Search for Cardiff City striker and pilot abandoned
The search was called off after a fourth unsuccessful day since the aircraft disappeared off radars on Monday night north of Guernsey - updates from Thursday
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates as the search for Emiliano Sala, a pilot and a missing plane was called off on Thursday afternoon without any trace of the missing Cardiff City striker in the English Channel.
The search was called off after a fourth unsuccessful day since the aircraft disappeared off radars on Monday night north of Guernsey. After officials confirmed that the priority of the search changed from a rescue mission to a recovery operation, a statement from police said that Thursday search will focus on coastal areas of the Channel Islands and northern France, yet this turned up nothing linked to the missing aircraft.
Cardiff City have said that they are “realistic” about the fate of Sala, who joined the club in a £15m deal last weekend, and revelations about the aeroplane that was carrying Sala and pilot Dave Ibbotson continue to emerge, including a voice message left by Sala to his friends in Argentina in the final hours before he disappeared complaining about the condition of the plane and his fear for his safety. Follow the live updates below.
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The search and rescue efforts have covered 280 square miles with no trace yet found.
The Channel Islands Air Search has confirmed the search has moved from a rescue to a recovery operation.
As we reported earlier a decision will be made later on over whether to continue the search efforts.
Guernsey harbourmaster Captain David Barker, who is leading the search for Cardiff forward Emiliano Sala in the Channel Islands claims they have already covered 1,200 sq miles (3,100 sq km).
"Nobody in the joint control centre, including myself, wants to give up, we are determined to find the two men alive," said Barker.
"Already we are seeing four and five metre waves out to the west of Alderney - which is in our search area - because of that we have been unable to put the lifeboat out to sea, so he's on standby in the harbour.
"But we will run until we lose the light again today and re-assess at that point."
The Channel Islands Air Search have shifted from a rescue to a recovery operation.
"I think very much it is that sort of recovery stage now," said chief officer John Fitzgerald.
"It's trying to find parts of the aircraft, whatever is floating around n the surface."
Officers are "reviewing satellite imagery and mobile phone data to see if they can be of any assistance in the search."
We are currently waiting for an update from Guernsey Police as to whether they will extend the search beyond tonight.
But as things stand, there is "no trace" of the aircraft.
Harbour Master Captain David Barker has now confirmed that the name of the pilot of the missing aircraft is David Ibbotson.
Guernsey Police have now suspended their search for the evening.
In a statement at 17:00, the Police said: "After an intensive search using multiple aircraft and one lifeboat over the last nine hours, we have found no trace of the missing plane.
"A decision about whether to recommence will be taken early tomorrow morning. There will be no further updates tonight."
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