Emiliano Sala: Search for missing Cardiff City footballer ended without any trace of missing plane

Officials looking for an aeroplane that went missing on Monday night with two people on board have called off searches and said that ‘the chances of survival at this stage are extremely remote’

Guernsey Police have said that search efforts to locate missing Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala and a pilot in the English Channel have ended.

Sala, 28, and 60-year-old pilot David Ibbotson have not been seen since their flight from Nantes to Cardiff disappeared on Monday night over the English Channel. Search and rescue teams have scoured the waters around Guernsey, Alderney and the surrounding area, but by Thursday afternoon investigators were yet to find anything that they could confirm was from the missing aircraft.

In a statement issued at 3:15pm on Thursday, Guernsey harbour master Captain David Barker confirmed that the decision had been taken to end the active search across the Channel, although added that “the incident remains open” and all remaining boats and aircrafts in the area will be contacted to keep a lookout for anything that may be linked to the missing plane.

“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.”

The decision to end the search all but ends any hope of either Sala or Mr Ibbotson being found alive, having been missing for nearly four days at the time of the search being called off.

Argentine footballer Sala was on his way to Cardiff on Monday after agreeing a club-record £15m transfer from Ligue 1 side Nantes FC when the plane went missing at around 8:20pm, with the aircraft disappearing off the Jersey Air Traffic Control radar without any distress signal.

The only contact came from Mr Ibbotson, who “requested descent” to drop from 5,000ft to 2,300ft, where the plane was last seen before disappearing without trace.

The search to find missing footballer Emiliano Sala has been called off (Getty)

Sala’s sister has travelled to the United Kingdom from Argentina, with his parents expected to follow in the near-future. Cardiff City have kept in communication with his family, with chief executive Ken Choo admitting that it has been a “difficult time physically, emotionally and mentally” for those who knew Sala.

Captain Barker added: “(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.

Pilot Dave Ibbotson was flying the plane that disappeared (Facebook/Dave Ibbotson) (Facebook)

“This has been a very thorough and extensive search, co-ordinated from the Guernsey-based Joint Emergency Services Control Centre and has seen exemplary co-operation from all countries involved, for which I would like to extend my personal thanks."