Channel police call off search for missing Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala

Cardiff's record signing Sala and pilot David Ibbotson were aboard a plane that disappeared from radar en route from Nantes to Cardiff on Monday

A young man brings flowers in front of the entrance of the FC Nantes football club training center La Joneliere in La Chapelle-sur-Erdre on January 23, 2019, two days after the plane of Argentinian forward vanished during a flight from Nantes in western France to Cardiff in Wales. The 28-year-old Argentine striker is one of two people still missing after contact was lost with the light aircraft he was travelling in on January 21, 2019 night. Sala was on his way to the Welsh capital to train with his new teammates for the first time after completing a £15 million ($19 million) move to Cardiff City from French side Nantes on January 19. / AFP / LOIC VENANCEShow less

Police on Thursday ended their search for Premier League player Emiliano Sala, saying the chances of finding the Argentine alive three days after his plane went missing over the Channel were "extremely remote".

The light aircraft transporting the 28-year-old striker, who signed for Cardiff City at the weekend, disappeared from radar around 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Guernsey on Monday night.

The tiny island sits off the northern coast of France.

"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," Guernsey said in a statement.

"The chances of survival at this stage are extremely remote."

The police said they have informed the next of kin of Sala and the missing pilot, who has been identified as David Ibbotson.

The police said teams from the Channel Islands, the United Kingdom and France had searched an area of approximately 4,400 square kilometres, "with a significant amount of this searched more than once".

Cardiff City's new signing Sala and Ibbotson have been missing since Monday night and rescuers have said chances of finding either of them alive were "slim".

The Argentine forward, 28, was en route from Nantes in western France to make his debut for Welsh team Cardiff City.

"We are commencing a coastal search using the Channel Islands Air Search plane of Burhou, the Casquets, Alderney, the north coast of the Cherbourg Peninsula, north coast of Jersey and then back over Sark," Guernsey police had earlier tweeted.

Sevilla's Wissam Ben Yedder shows a t-shirt supporting Cardiff City FC's Emiliano Sala, as he celebrates scoring his team's second goal in Seville, Spain. AFP

Flowers and candles are left with the French sports daily newspaper 'L'Equipe' next to a portrait of Sala in front of the entrance of the FC Nantes football club training center La Joneliere in La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, France. AFP

Flowers, candles, and a sign that reads "All of our thoughts are for you Emiliano Sala" are left with newspaper 'L'Equipe' in La Chapelle-sur-Erdre. AFP

A man holds a sports magazine and yellow tulips as fans gather in Nantes' city center. Reuters

A FC Nantes football club supporter places flowers in the main square of Nantes. AFP

Tributes are left outside the Cardiff City Stadium for Sala in Cardiff, Britain. Reuters

Tributes are left outside the stadium. Reuters

Players pay tribute to Sala before the start of the French Cup match between Monaco and Metz at the Louis II stadium in Monaco. AFP

Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman conceded late Wednesday "it doesn't look good" for Sala after a search-and-rescue operation to find the missing player was suspended.

Dalman, who described Sala's disappearance as a "tragic accident", said the Piper PA-46 Malibu plane was not organised by the club.

He also said the sister of the £15 million (Dh71.35m) Argentina striker was on her way to south Wales.

Graphic: Ramon Penas / The National

"We continue to collect data to try to understand what happened from this end. Everything points towards a tragic accident, it really does," Dalman told Sky Sports News HQ.

"We will continue to hope and pray. But we also have to be realistic, it doesn't look good at this very moment.

"It's quite evident that Cardiff took the responsibility to offer Sala arrangements, which obviously would have been commercial flights, which would have meant a train from Nantes to Paris then Paris to Heathrow and then driving up [to Cardiff].

"And the player's reaction to that was to make his own arrangements which was much quicker.

"Whether he did it from Nantes's point of view or with his agent, we are trying to extricate that. I think we will reach a conclusion to that in two days."

Football agent Mark McKay said he was involved in Sala's travel arrangements, telling Sky Sports News: "I can confirm that when Emiliano made myself and his agent Meissa N'Diaye aware that he wished to travel back to Nantes following his medical and signing on Friday, I began to look into arranging a private flight to take him to Nantes on Saturday morning.

"That evening, it was confirmed a plane was available to fly Emiliano on Saturday which could remain in Nantes until he was due to return to Cardiff.

"I have been in contact with officials from Cardiff City FC and the player's agent over these difficult past few days and will continue to do so."

Humberside Police confirmed on Wednesday evening that Ibbotson, from Crowle, near Scunthorpe, was the pilot.

Searches for the missing plane, which were suspended due to fading light, had resumed after the emergence of a WhatsApp voice message from Sala.

In the recording, he says he is "getting scared" as he is "aboard a plane that seems like it is falling to pieces".

The rescue operation has targeted an area of 3,000 square kilometre area around Alderney using multiple aircraft from the Channel Islands, France and the United Kingdom.

Police, who said rescue workers were prioritising the possibility that the plane landed on water and its life raft was used, confirmed on Wednesday evening the search had been temporarily halted.

"After an intensive search using multiple aircraft and one lifeboat over the last nine hours, we have found no trace of the missing plane," read a Guernsey Police statement.

"With the light now fading, the search will shortly be suspended for the night. A decision about whether to recommence will be taken early tomorrow morning."

John Fitzgerald, Channel Islands Air Search chief officer, said it was unlikely Sala or Ibbotson would be found alive.

I think it is very much that sort of recovery stage now.

Asked if that operation was now more about recovery than rescue, he told Sky Sports News: "I think it is very much that sort of recovery stage

According to Guernsey Police, the single-turbine-engine aircraft departed Nantes at 7.15pm on Monday for the Welsh capital and was flying at an altitude of 1,524 metres.

On passing Guernsey it "requested descent", but Jersey air traffic control lost contact with the plane while it was flying at 701 metres.

Cardiff's chief executive Ken Choo described Sala as a "great person" and revealed the player had described joining the Premier League club as "one of the best days of his life".

Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri, who coached Sala at Nantes, said on Twitter: "I was devastated to hear the news. Emiliano is a wonderful character.

"He's a fighter. The world of football will be united in wishing for some positive news. I pray for Emiliano and his family."

Nantes supporters gather in Nantes after it was announced that the plane Argentinian forward Emiliano Sala was flying on vanished. AFP

People hold a vigil for missing former Nantes player Emiliano Sala. EPA

Nantes supporters gather in Nantes. AFP

Nantes supporters gather and light candles over an Argentinian flag. AFP

Nantes fans hold up club scarves during a gathering. AFP

Nantes supporters lay flowers. AFP

The 28-year-old Argentine striker is one of two people still missing after contact was lost with the light aircraft. AFP

Nantes supporters light flares during the gathering. AFP

Nantes supporters lay flowers. AFP

Sala was on his way to the Welsh capital to train with his new teammates for the first time after completing a move to Cardiff City. AFP

A Nantes supporter adds to the collection of flowers. AFP

Club Atletico Social San Martin President Daniel Rivero holds a Nantes team jersey that was given to the club by Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala. AP Photo

A view of the "Club Atletico y Social San Martin" where Emiliano Sala played soccer when he was young, in Progreso, Santa Fe province, Argentina. AFP

A view of the "Club Atletico y Social San Martin" where Emiliano Sala played soccer when he was young, in Progreso, Santa Fe province, Argentina. AFP

Horacio Sala, father of Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala, stands outside his home in Progreso, Argentina. AP Photo

Horacio Sala, father of Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala, and his partner Carina Mercedes Taffarel embrace outside their home in Progreso, Argentina. AP Photo