Accident of Emiliano Sala: "Airplane" seat cushions in the English Channel

Investigators found two seat cushions in the plane that was carrying footballer Emiliano Sala, from the city of Cardiff, when he disappeared through the English Channel.

Research teams have been exploring the sea around the Channel Islands since Piper Malibu disappeared from the radar on Monday, January 21st.

The Directorate of Air Accident Investigation (AAIB) said today: "The French authority in charge of security investigations informed us on Monday morning January 28 that part of a seat cushion was found on a beach of Surainville, in the peninsula of Cotentin.

"A second cushion was found in the same area later in the day. After a preliminary examination, we concluded that it is likely that the cushions come from the missing plane.

A light plane carrying Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala disappeared from radar last week

Investigators think they found two seats of the plane on a French beach Monday

Both seats were found on a beach near the peninsula of Cotentin in Normandy

A "priority search area" of about four square nautical miles has been established and a specialized vessel has been commissioned to conduct a study of the seabed.

The AAIB statement said: "We currently anticipate that our underwater seabed research will begin at the end of this weekend and will last up to three days. The side scan sonar equipment will be used to try to locate the wreck on the seabed.

"If the wreckage is found, a remotely operated vehicle will be used to visually examine the wreckage."

The light aircraft carrying Sala, 28, and his pilot David Ibbotson disappeared on 21 January after losing contact with Jersey air traffic control on his Nantes-Cardiff trip.

On Monday, the footballer's mother, Mercedes, and her sister, Romina, flew over the area where Sala's plane had been found.

The group traveled aboard a twin engine aircraft Dornier 228-212, departing from Guernsey airport and touring the island of Alderney, a week after the withdrawal from the airport. Sala plane.

The family hired David Mearns, a specialist in marine science, to help him conduct a private research. The official inquiry shares information with their team.

Today's AAIB statement states: "We are aware that private research is also underway in the region and we are working closely with the people involved to maximize the chances of finding the wreckage and ensuring a safe search operation. "

Pilot David Ibbotson was flying the plane when he disappeared from radar last week

Sala 's heartbroken mother, Mercedes (center) and sister Romina (right) toured Guernsey and flew past the last known spot of the plane.

The two seats stranded somewhere on a long beach of Cotentin beaches

Mr. Mearns, head of private research, announced today that a boat that he had organized would work closely with an AAIB ship in the coming days.

He tweeted: "Private-funded research for the aircraft carrying Emiliano will be conducted, on behalf of the Sala family, in close coordination with the AAIB's research efforts.

"The two vessels will work together to search the designated area as safely, completely and efficiently as possible."

It is believed that the aircraft crashed into the Channel because the ice was fouled in the propeller or had affected the wings.

C & # 39; was en route to Cardiff where Sala joined his new teammates after signing the French side of Nantes.

However, after one hour, the pilot requested air traffic control permission to reduce the altitude from 5,000 to 2,300 feet.

Cardiff fans pay tribute to Sala before their team's match with Arsenal last night

It is thought that he may have been trying to get warmer air after the propeller or wings have become covered with ice. But shortly thereafter, Guernsey Coastguards were informed that the plane had disappeared from the radar screens.

Aviation experts have asked why the light aircraft at a propeller was flying at night in the Channel during freezing weather, while a crash in icy waters in the dark would have made survival difficult.

They also asked why Mr. Ibbotson, a part – time pilot and gas engineer who was not allowed to carry paying pbadengers, was hired at the last minute to fly the plane.

It is claimed that he interrupted three takeoffs and joked with friends on Facebook that he was a little "rusty" the days before.