Seat cushions found 'likely' to have come from plane carrying missing Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala
Two seat cushions have been found which are likely to have come from the plane carrying missing Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said.
In a statement published on Wednesday, they said: "On the morning of Monday January 28, we were advised by the Bureau d'Enquetes & d'Analyses, the French safety investigation authority, that part of a seat cushion had been found on a beach near Surainville on the Cotentin Peninsula.
"A second cushion was found in the same area later that day.
"From a preliminary examination, we have concluded that it is likely that the cushions are from the missing aircraft."
“Since we opened our safety investigation on Tuesday 23 January, we have been gathering evidence such as flight, aircraft and personnel records, and have been analysing radar data and air traffic tapes.
”We have been working closely with other international authorities and have kept the families of those involved updated on our progress.“
The AAIB has established a ”priority search area“ of around four-square nautical miles and commissioned a specialist vessel to carry out a survey of the seabed.
It would not confirm the location but said it is where it believes the aircraft entered the sea.
Due to the weather and sea conditions, this is expected to start at the end of this weekend and could take up to three days.
If wreckage is found, a remotely operated vehicle will be used to examine it.
The Argentinian striker and pilot Dave Ibbotson have been missing since 21 January.
They were travelling from France to Cardiff when their light aircraft stopped communicating with air traffic control.
It has emerged that football agent Willie McKay arranged for the flight to take Sala to Cardiff, but he said he had no involvement in selecting the plane or pilot.
A private search for the missing 28-year-old has also been launched by his family.
The AAIB said it is aware that a privately-funded search is also being conducted and is “liaising closely with those involved to maximise the chance of locating any wreckage and ensure a safe search operation”.
Marine scientist David Mearns is assisting the family of footballer Sala, who had just signed for Cardiff City, with this separate search.
He said on Monday it would focus on an area of 25 square nautical miles on the seabed north of Alderney.
Tributes were paid to the missing pair when Cardiff City played Arsenal on Tuesday evening.