Chances of missing plane survivors “slim”

Tuesday 22 January 2019

Chances of finding missing Premier League star Emiliano Sala and his fellow plane passengers alive are “slim”, Police have said following an extensive search for the footballer’s missing plane.

A combined air and sea search in the hunt for a missing light aircraft off Alderney resumed again this morning following a widespread search operation.

Over 1,155sq miles have been searched as teams have swept the seas around the Channel Islands in search of the missing plane, so far finding only what are being described as "floating objects”. 

17.00 update

Search and rescue operations have been suspended as the sun has now set.

The current plan is for it to resume at sunrise tomorrow.

There will be no further updates tonight.

— Guernsey Police (@GuernseyPolice) January 22, 2019

The Piper aircraft was carrying the new £15m Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala on his way from Nantes to his new club. Nantes have postponed their next game in light of the incident. 

The search began at 20:30 on Monday night, and by 17:00 on Tuesday evening, the search was suspended, as Police published the following statement: "During the course of the 15-hour search, which used multiple air and sea assets from the Channel Islands, UK and France, a number of floating objects have been seen in the water. 

“We have been unable to confirm whether any of these are from the missing aircraft. We have found no signs of those on board. If they did land on the water, the chances of survival are at this stage, unfortunately, slim. Two planes and a lifeboat are still searching."

Pictured: Alderney's lifeboat team were part of the search. Image from their Facebook page, taken by Coxswain Declan Gaudion. 

As of 15:30 in the afternoon, one plane and one lifeboat were still searching, but when things came to a climax, there were two helicopters, two planes and a lifeboat all participating in the hunt.

The search has attracted attention from around the world, as premier league footballer, Emiliano Sala, who had just been signed to play for Cardiff City FC, was on board the aircraft.

The PA 46 Malibu, a single engine aircraft, was on route from Nantes in France, to Cardiff in Wales, with two people on board when it was lost off radar as Jersey ATC was attempting to make contact. 

Pictured: The type of aircraft suspected to have crashed off the Casquets, a Piper Malibu. 

Guernsey Coastguard received an alert at 20:23 from Jersey ATC, that a light aircraft had gone off their radar approximately 15 miles north of Guernsey, initiating the major search and rescue operation involving both St Peter Port and Alderney lifeboats.

On the evening of Monday 21 Jan and morning of Tuesday 22, the search was finally called off at 02:00, as strengthening winds and worsening sea conditions meant it was becoming increasingly unlikely that any progress would be made.

At this time, no trace of the aircraft had been found, but rescue teams were sent out once again at 08:00 on Tuesday morning. 

At lunchtime on Tuesday, Guernsey Police said in an update: "No trace has yet been found. Conditions during the search last night were challenging, with wave heights of up to two metres, with heavy rain showers and poor visibility.

"Today the sea is much calmer, and although visibility was good, it is now deteriorating. UK authorities have been calling airfields on the south coast to see if it landed there. So far we have no confirmation that it did."

Nationally, people are waiting with bated breath to hear some positive news, particularly Cardiff City FC, who had just taken on the player in what was described as a record signing.

The player had expressed his excitement about the signing, jokingly tweeting that "There is another Sala in town", suggesting that he was keen to challenge top Liverpool goalscorer Mohammed Salah in the English league.

Follow Express for updates…

Lead photo: Missing footballer, new signing for Cardiff FC Emiliano Sala. (Twitter/@EmilianoSala1/Cardiff FC)