Update: Major CI search for top footballer intensifies

Tuesday 22 January 2019

A major search is underway this afternoon to the north-west of Alderney for a light aircraft which was apparently carrying the £15m Cardiff City signing Emiliano Sala.

It's not been officially confirmed that Sala was on board the aircraft, but his previous club, FC Nantes, have already postponed their next match out of respect.

Guernsey Police say two planes, two helicopters and a lifeboat have all been searching the area, moving further north west of Alderney since the search resumed at 08:00.

The light aircraft disappeared off radar at around 20:30 last night, but the search was called off at around 02:00 in worsening conditions.

Pictured: An aircraft of the same type as the one which went missing. 

St Peter Port and Alderney lifeboats. Air Search 1 and 2 HM Coastguard helicopters are all still involved in the search. A French helicopter called The Cayman was also called in this morning. 

[Opération] de #recherches suite à la disparition d’un #avion de tourisme à #Guernesey, engagement de l’Caïman de la @MarineNationale pour participer aux recherches en coordination avec #guernesey coast guard pic.twitter.com/UfX18CTGj0

— PREMAR Manche (@premarmanche) January 22, 2019

Sky Sports News has confirmed  that the new Cardiff City FC striker was onboard the PA 46 Malibu when it lost contact with air traffic control.

A French Twitter account has reported that the upcoming match against Sannois has already been postponed because of the "disappearance of his plane."

Sur proposition de la @FFF , le match de @coupedefrance Entente Sannois Saint-Gratien / FC Nantes reporté @francetvsport

— Fabien Lévêque (@FabLeveque) January 22, 2019

French news site L'Ouest France also have unconfirmed reports that that the aircraft attempted to take off numerous times last night.

#alderney all weather lifeboat #searches the area under a #rainbow pic.twitter.com/5QBSjUB2Wq

— Aaron m bray (@Aaronmbray2) January 22, 2019

Jersey Met Office say a cold front had already passed up towards the UK coast when the incident occurred.

"There was a cold front that was making its way across the Channel. It would appear that the incident happened well in advance of the cold front. The cold front in Jersey brought 5mm of rain. We believe the incident happened at around 8.30pm as far as we know . At around 1am the cold front was lying over Wales and Cornwall.

"The sea conditions for the rescue mission would have been difficult, with up to 1.7 to 1.8 metre waves. The sea temperature around the Casquets was measured at 10.9 degrees," said a spokesperson.

Pictured: The Alderney RNLI vessel route (position as of 11:30 shown on bright green marker). 

Tributes have already begun to come in on Twitter from around the world. 

bonjour à tous, je tiens à apporter mon soutien au @FCNantes et à la famille, aux proches d'@EmilianoSala1.— PronosJR (@PronosJR1) January 22, 2019