Updated 11:50am
Underwater video footage shows one body in the wreckage of a plane carrying Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson.
The plane disappeared over the channel on January 21st as Sala was travelling from Nantes to Cardiff following his club record move to the Premier League.
Search teams announced the discovery of the wreckage on the seabed yesterday evening. They have been examining the wreckage using a submersible craft this morning.
The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has since confirmed that a person’s body is visible in the underwater footage.
"Bad dream"
Speaking last night, the footballer’s father Horacio Sala told Argentinian broadcaster Cronica TV: "I cannot believe it. This is a dream. A bad dream. I am desperate."
"I communicated with them every day, but since I do not have WhatsApp it's hard to call them or call me.
"They told me that the days passed and there was no news of Emiliano or the plane."
Horacio Sala speaks during an interview outside his home in Progreso, Argentina, 22-01-2019. Image: Mauricio Garin/AP/Press Association Images
Plane crash
The plane went down just days after 28-year-old Sala became Cardiff City’s club record – completing a move from Nantes for a record fee of €20.4m on a three-and-a-half year deal.
Both Sala, 28, and pilot David Ibbotson, 59, are missing presumed dead.
The official search for the plane was called off on January 24th; just three days after the plane went missing.
It resumed last week thanks to a crowdfunding appeal backed by Sala’s family.
On Twitter yesterday evening, search team head David Mearns confirmed the families of the two men have now been informed the plane has been found.
The families of Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson have been notified by Police. The AAIB will be making a statement tomorrow. Tonight our sole thoughts are with the families and friends of Emiliano and David. #EmilianoSalas #NoDejenDeBuscarAEmilianoSala
— David Mearns (@davidlmearns) February 3, 2019
Following the discovery, Mr Mearns said: “This is about the best result we could have hoped for the families.
"But tonight they have heard devastating news and in respect of the families I won't comment any further about what has happened."
After the official search was called off, Guernsey's harbour master Captain David Barker said the chances of survival following such a long period were "extremely remote."
The aircraft was located four days after two seat cushions were found that were likely to have come from the plane.
