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.
We are very concerned by the latest news that a light aircraft lost contact over the Channel last night. We are awaiting confirmation before we can say anything further. We are very concerned for the safety of Emiliano Sala.
BREAKING
Police confirmed that search and rescue efforts are underway with the Alderney lifeboat launched at 8.50pm with nothing found when procedures had to be abandoned due to worsening weather in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
A Guernsey Police statement read:
A search model was created on SARIS, based on the likely ditching position, and all search and rescue assets were tasked to the area.
The search was terminated at 02:00, with all search and rescue assets being stood down, due to strengthening winds, worsening sea conditions and reducing visibility. At this time no trace of the missing aircraft had been found.
The aircraft departed Nantes at 1915 for Cardiff. The aircraft was flying at 5000 feet. The aircraft on passing Guernsey requested descent. Jersey ATC lost contact whilst it was flying at 2300 feet.
I think Emiliano Sala wanted to say goodbye to his friends. He's a polite boy, kind, adorable, loved by everyone... always very respectful, very courteous. I think of his family, of all his friends. Sincerely, he's an adorable boy.
BREAKING
We were called out by Guernsey Coastguard at 8.30pm, just as the aircraft had dropped off the radar and we were over Alderney by about 9pm.We stayed there until midnight before we flew back to Guernsey to change over the crew and refuel.There was about 15 to 20 miles visibility so we could see quite a lot during the first search but the lifeboats found it quite difficult. That area is always quite rough but from 1,000 feet, we can see straight down.It was not that bad but at about 2 or 3am wintry showers set in and the search was postponed. We went out again at 8am.
"Still nobody from Nantes has communicated with us, we are worried, desperate, this took us all by surprise.
"I don't have any information on the journey, the only thing I know is that it was a small plane.
"They are saying that the plane lost control in the channel. I don't know what could have happened. I am speechless."
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