Body Recovered from the Plane that Took Emiliano Sala and Pilot David Ibbotson to the Sea
Late on Wednesday, Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed that a body was pulled out of the wreckage of the Piper Malibu that vanished over the English Channel on January 21. The identity of the body remains undisclosed.
The Tragic Flight
- Emiliano Sala – 28‑year‑old Argentine star set to debut for Cardiff City, had just departed from Nantes.
- David Ibbotson – The experienced pilot aboard the single‑engine aircraft.
- Both are believed to have perished when the plane skimmed out of the Channel and crashed into the sea.
Search & Rescue Operations
Following a privately‑funded underwater search, wreckage was found on Sunday near Guernsey. The French coast yielded two seat cushions, likely from the same aircraft. When the debris settled on the seabed, investigators spotted a body inside.
Despite the successful recovery, attempts to coast the wreckage back to shore failed. Poor weather conditions, the AAIB noted, forced the operation to conclude.
Cardiff City’s Tribute
On the day of the match against Bournemouth, Cardiff players held up a T‑shirt emblazoned with Sala’s image after the club secured a goal in the fifth minute.
Fans were welcomed with daffodils as they entered the stadium. In the 28th minute, a surge of applause filled the arena, and the crowd sang Sala’s name, honoring his untimely passing.
Nantes Pays Homage
On January 30, Nantes honored their departed player by stopping play during a Ligue 1 match against St Etienne. The minute‑long tribute saw coach Vahid Halilhodzic in tears as the referee paused the game for a minute of applause.
Stoked Tribute Notes
- Cardiff City’s club‑record fee for Sala: £15 million (≈ $19.63 million).
- Emiliano Sala’s debut never materialised – the tragedy silenced a promising future.
- The body’s identity remains a mystery, adding another solemn curtain to an already heartbreaking saga.
