Emiliano Sala’s body recovered from plane crash, police confirm
The Associated Press
A van stands by the Geo Ocean III specialist search vessel docked in Portland, England, which is carrying a body recovered from the wreckage of the plane carrying Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, Thursday Feb. 7, 2019. The aircraft remains 67 metres underwater 21 miles off the coast of Guernsey in the English Channel as poor weather conditions stopped recovery efforts. (Steve Parsons/PA via AP)
A van stands by the Geo Ocean III specialist search vessel, right, docked in Portland, England, which is carrying a body recovered from the wreckage of the plane carrying Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, Thursday Feb. 7, 2019. The aircraft remains 67 metres underwater 21 miles off the coast of Guernsey in the English Channel as poor weather conditions stopped recovery efforts. (Steve Parsons/PA via AP)
In this image released Monday Feb. 4, 2019, by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) showing the rear left side of the fuselage including part of the aircraft registration N264DB that went missing carrying soccer player Emiliano Sala, when it disappeared from radar contact on Jan. 21 2019. The Air accident investigators say one body is visible in the sea in the wreckage of the plane that went missing carrying soccer player Emiliano Sala and his pilot David Ibbotson. (AAIB via AP)
Marine Scientist David Mearns is interviewed by reporters after the discovery of the wreckage of the plane that was carrying footballer Emiliano Sala, in Guernsey, Channel Islands, Monday, Feb. 4, 2019. The wreckage was located on Sunday, two weeks after it disappeared from radar over the English Channel, according to the marine scientist leading a privately funded search for the Argentine’s family. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP)
LONDON — Police confirmed on Thursday that the body recovered from a plane in the English Channel was that of Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala.
Dorset police made the announcement after a coroner’s examination of the body, which was recovered from the seabed wreckage of the plane on Wednesday.
Sala, who had just signed with Premier League club Cardiff, and pilot David Ibbotson were the only people onboard the small aircraft that disappeared over the English Channel last month.
“The body brought to Portland Port today has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala,” Dorset Police said in a statement. “The families of Mr. Sala and the pilot David Ibbotson have been updated with this news and will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers. Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.”
Investigators have not been able to recover the aircraft, which was flying from Nantes to Cardiff after Sala transferred from the French city’s team.
An initial search and rescue operation failed to locate the plane but it was later discovered by the Air Accident Investigation Branch and privately funded search teams.
After the confirmation of Sala’s death, Cardiff issued a statement saying “he and David will forever remain in our thoughts.”
The Argentine Football Association also expressed its condolences on Twitter.
“Profound pain over the death of Emiliano Sala,” the AFA said. “Our condolences to his family and loved ones.”
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