Air search focuses on coast ahead of another decision at noon

Thursday 24 January 2019

The search for the Piper PA-46 Malibu light aircraft which went missing flying at 2300ft over Alderney on Monday evening is now entering its third day.

An announcement will be made at lunchtime as to what will happen next though, as the investigation continues to attract the world's attention.

One of the people on board is football player Emiliano Sala. The pilot was confirmed yesterday as being father-of-three David Ibbotson. 

Guernsey Police issued an update this morning to say that an air search would continue for now, focussing on coastal areas using the Channel Islands' Air Search plane to look at areas including Burhou, the Casquets, Alderney, the north coast of the Cherbourg Peninsula, north coast of Jersey and then back over Sark. A further announcement will be issued around noon. 

Pictured: Tributes left for the player in Nantes, France. Photo by Jonathan Noiraut Roy.

Vigils have already been held in France and tributes paid on social media to the newly signed Cardiff City player.

Tributes are also believed to have been placed at the home of pilot Dave Ibbotson, whose identity was only publicly confirmed yesterday after the news had been relayed to his family. 

Guernsey Police are also said to have been reviewing satellite imagery and mobile phone data to see if they can be of any assistance.

There has been much speculation about the investigation so far, including on Tuesday night with the emergence of an apparent WhatsApp audio clip sent by the footballer to his friends in which he describes the plane as "falling apart".

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Pictured above: The Channel Islands' Air Search plane.