The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has released a statement confirming that two seat cushions have been found on a French beach, believed to have been from the missing plane carrying Cardiff City’s Emiliano Sala.
Sala, along with pilot David Ibbotson, were on board the plane which went missing on January 21 as they flew over the Channel Islands.
SEE MORE: (Photo) Arsenal pay classy tribute to Emiliano Sala at Cardiff City clash tonight
Since then, an extensive search has been conducted, and now the tragic update has been released, as per the statement below.
“On the morning of Monday 28 January, 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 Surtainville 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.”
An underwater search is now expected to be carried out, while a private search which has been funded after €300,000 was raised by a GoFundMe campaign following a public plea from Sala’s sister for authorities to continue to look for her brother, will also continue.
For the sake of the two families concerned, it is hoped that the search can bring them closure with the Mirror reporting that survival chances were said to be slim last week, while of course the overriding hope is that the pair could still possibly be found alive.
