Emiliano Sala’s sister Romina issues desperate plea to continue search for missing Cardiff City footballer
Romina Sala travelled to Cardiff on Thursday only to discover officials had called off search for her missing brother pilot David Ibbotson
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Your support makes all the difference.The sister of Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala has issued a desperate plea to authorities to continue their search of the English Channel, after the decision was taken to end the hunt for the missing plane and its two occupants.
Romina Sala travelled to the UK on Thursday to meet with Cardiff City officials as efforts continued to find the Argentine and 60-year-old pilot David Ibbotson, only for the search to be ended at 3:15pm. Investigators now say they will examine whether the pilot had the correct licence.
Following almost four days of searches, which have failed to locate any trace of the missing aircraft, Guernsey harbour master Captain David Barker said “the chances of survival at this stage are extremely remote”.
But immediately after the search was called off, Romina issued a heartfelt plea to continue efforts to locate her brother, and said that to the family he remains alive until proven otherwise.
“We understand the facts and we really appreciate the efforts,” she said to media outside the St David’s Hotel in Cardiff. “We want to say thanks to the two clubs [Cardiff City and Nantes FC] and everyone who is looking for Emiliano, but my message is please, please, please don’t stop with the search. For me, they are still alive.
“It is very difficult to express my feelings at the moment because it is really hard.
“We have had a lot of support from the two clubs and I thank all the fans for their efforts, but deep down in the bottom of my heart I know that Emiliano – who is a fighter – is still alive. I know Emiliano and the pilot are somewhere in the middle of the Channel.
“We are not going to give up.”
Investigators will inspect whether Mr Ibbotson had the correct licence, it has since emerged.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch has opened a probe since the light aircraft disappeared from radar on Monday night. ”We are looking at all operational aspects of the flight including licensing,” a spokesman said.
Mr Ibbotson, 59, of Crowle, Lincolnshire, held a private pilot’s licence and passed a medical exam as recently as November, according to Federal Aviation Administration records in the US, where the plane was registered.
A widespread search of the Channel Islands and the surrounding areas saw three planes, five helicopters and two lifeboats search more than 1,700sq miles of water after the aircraft disappeared off radars on Monday night, but efforts were brought to a halt when officials felt that all options had been exhausted.
A number of passing vessels and aircraft had also offered their help with the search, but no trace of the missing plane had been found. The fact that the initial search efforts on Monday night had to be abandoned after 2am due to worsening weather conditions may have proved a significant setback to establishing where the plane disappeared.
The incident will remain open and all boats and aircraft in the area will be contacted to remain alert for any objects or signs in the water of a potential wreck, but the coastguard will no longer actively search for the two men and plane unless there are any major developments.
“My team have just met to review the search and rescue operation which has been underway since the plane disappeared on Monday night,” Captain Barker said. “Despite the best efforts of air and search assets from the Channel Islands, UK and France, which has covered an area of approximately 1,700sq miles – with a significant amount of this searched more than once – and having examined mobile phone data and satellite imagery, we have been unable to find any trace of the aircraft, the pilot or the passenger.
“There has been over 24 hours of continuous searching, with 80 hours combined flying time across three planes and five helicopters. Two lifeboats have also been involved, as well as assistance from various passing ships and fishing boats.
“We reviewed all the information available to us, as well as knowing what emergency equipment was on board, and have taken the difficult decision to end the search.
“The chances of survival at this stage are extremely remote.
“[Sala’s and Mr Ibbotson’s] 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.
“This has been a very thorough and extensive search, coordinated from the Guernsey-based Joint Emergency Services Control Centre, and has seen exemplary cooperation from all countries involved, for which I would like to extend my personal thanks.”
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