LONDON, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British crash investigators launched an underwater operation to recover a body from the wreckage of the plane carrying Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala in the Channel.
“We are attempting to recover the body. If we are successful, we will consider the feasibility of recovering the aircraft wreckage,” an Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) spokesperson said in a statement.
The light aircraft carrying the 28-year-old footballer and pilot David Ibbotson to his new Premier League team Cardiff City disappeared near the British island of Guernsey on Jan 21.
The shipwreck hunter hired by Sala’s family with the help of funds donated by football stars such as Lionel Messi found the plane wreckage on Sunday.
The AAIB has since taken over operations. It revealed on Monday that an unidentified body had been found at the site.
But it warned on Tuesday that strong tides “mean we can only use the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for limited periods each day”.
“Regardless of the results, we will not be making a further statement until the families have been informed,” it said.‘
Sala was flying to join up with Cardiff from his old French team Nantes.
His signing was the most expensive in the Welsh club’s history and marked what fans had hoped would be a turning point in its bid to avoid relegation from England’s top division.
Sala’s family raised more than 370,000 euros (US$422,000) in an online campaign to pay for the private search. — NNN-AGENCIES
