Football news - Emiliano Sala plane crash investigation to focus on pilot’s licence
ByPA Sport
Updated 25/02/2019 at 18:36 GMT
An interim report into the plane that crashed with Emiliano Sala on board revealed that the pilot did not have a licence for commercial flights.
The Match Day Programme with a Daffodil as a tribute to Emiliano Sala during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and AFC Bournemouth at Cardiff City Stadium on February 2, 2019 in Cardiff, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
The investigation into the plane crash which occurred on January 21 will focus on the validity of pilot David Ibbotson licence.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) named “regulatory requirements” as one of four areas in which further work will be carried out.
Its interim report noted that the type of licence held by the pilot meant he could only fly passengers in the European Union on a cost sharing basis, rather than for commercial flights.
Pilots with his licence “must have a bona fide purpose for making the flight”, according to the AAIB.
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Sala plane crash
Image credit: PA Sport
Argentinian footballer Sala had just signed for Cardiff City from French club Nantes for £15 million when the plane crashed into the Channel.
He was the only passenger on board the Piper Malibu aircraft flying from Nantes to the Welsh capital.
His body was recovered on February 6 but pilot David Ibbotson, 59, of Crowle, Lincolnshire, has not been located.
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AIR Channel
Image credit: PA Sport
Mr Ibbotson’s family hope a fresh search for his body will begin this week after setting up an online fundraising campaign which has reached £250,000.
The aircraft remains underwater off the coast of Guernsey after an attempt to recover it was hampered by bad weather.
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