Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National

Emiliano Sala latest: Interim report into cause of plane crash set to be published

An interim report into the plane crash which killed footballer Emiliano Sala is set to be published.

The Cardiff City player’s body was found in the flight’s wreckage after it went down over the English Channel on January 21.

He had just signed to the club from French team Nantes and was being flown by pilot David Ibbotson when the crash happened.

The 28-year-old’s body was recovered on February 6 but Mr Ibbotson, 59, has not been found.

The wreckage of Sala's plane underwater (AAIB)

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch, who conduct safety investigations into aviation incidents, will release its preliminary findings at 2pm on Monday.

The footballer's body was recovered from the plane's wreckage on February 6 (Emiliano Sala)

Mr Ibbotson's family hope a fresh search for his body will begin this week after setting up an online fundraising campaign which has reached £250,000.

The aircraft remains underwater off the coast of Guernsey after an attempt to recover it was hampered by bad weather.

Thousands attended the striker’s funeral in his native Argentina on February 16, including Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock and former team mate Nicolas Pallis.

David Ibbotson, who piloted the plane carrying Emiliano Sala that crashed into the English Channel, is still missing. (GoFundMe / Ibbotson Family)

The service was held at his boyhood club, San Martin de Progreso.

The opening to Mr Sala's inquest found he died from "head and trunk injuries" and was formally identified by his fingerprints.

It has been adjourned until November at Dorset Coroner's Court.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.