Emiliano Sala: the footballer lost the body found in the plane | Soccer

The body found of an aircraft that crashed in the English Channel was officially identified as that of Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala, police said.

The plane, which was also carrying pilot David Ibbotson, crashed on Jan. 21 between Nantes and Cardiff.

"The body transported to Portland Harbor was officially identified by the coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala," said Dorset police. "The families of Mr. Sala and pilot David Ibbotson have been informed of this news and will continue to be badisted by specially trained family liaison officers."

The football club of Cardiff City said in a statement: "We offer our most sincere condolences and condolences to the Emiliano family. He and David will forever be in our thoughts. "

The wreck of the N264DB Piper Malibu that was carrying the two men was found in the sea off the Channel Islands, and investigators reported shortly after seeing a body inside.

Efforts then began to recover and identify the body, although they were complicated by poor weather conditions. On Thursday, after the body was brought to Portland, Dorset, by the Geo Ocean III boat, the police confirmed that it was the footballer.

Sala was recently signed by the Premier League club FC Nantes, French Ligue 1 club. He was returning from the French city of South Wales, where he had gone to say goodbye to old friends and his teammates when the accident occurred.

On Thursday, the Dorset police announced that the coroner would continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Sala's death, supported by his officers. The Air Accident Investigation Branch also indicated that it had decided not to continue its efforts to get the plane up, which she had been studying for the help of the airplanes. a remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

"Unfortunately, attempts to salvage the wreckage of the aircraft failed before bad weather forced us to return the ROV to the ship," a statement said. "The weather forecast is mediocre in the near future and the difficult decision to end all operations has been taken."

The AAIB stated that Sala's body salvage operation was conducted "in the most dignified manner possible" under difficult conditions. Although he was unable to board the aircraft, the corps stated that "a large video record captured by the ROV should provide valuable evidence for our security investigation." Investigators said they would submit an interim report on the crash by February 21.