A body recovered from underwater wreckage of the plane carrying Emiliano Sala has been formally identified as the Cardiff striker, police said.
Sala was identified by the Dorset coroner on Thursday after his body was pulled from the plane, which had been flown by pilot David Ibbotson, the previous day.
Dorset Police said in a statement: “The body brought to Portland Port today, Thursday February 7 2019, has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala.
#Update The body brought to Portland Port today has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala.
The families of Mr Sala and pilot David Ibbotson have been updated. Our thoughts remain with them all
— Dorset Police (@dorsetpolice) February 7, 2019
“The families of Mr Sala and the pilot David Ibbotson have been updated with this news and will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers.
“Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.
“HM Coroner will continue to investigate the circumstances of this death supported by Dorset Police.”
“He and David will forever remain in our thoughts.”
The Piper Malibu N264DB plane lost contact with air traffic control over the Channel, north of Guernsey, on Monday January 21.
An initial search and rescue operation failed to locate the plane but it was later discovered by the Air Accident Investigation Branch and privately funded search teams.
Club Statement (07/02/19): https://t.co/ib8zJfWzvC
Forever in our thoughts ?
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) February 7, 2019
The aircraft remains 67 metres underwater 21 miles off the coast of Guernsey in the English Channel as poor weather conditions stopped efforts to recover it.
The AAIB has said it expects to publish an interim report within the month.
Cardiff had signed Sala for a club record £15 million and he was due to start
training last month.
Nantes has demanded payment from Cardiff for the player’s transfer.
