Who Was Emiliano Raúl Sala
Emiliano Raúl Sala was an Argentine professional footballer who played as a striker for FC Nantes in Ligue 1. He moved from Bordeaux to Nantes in January 2019 and was widely regarded as a promising talent in French football.
The Flight and Disappearance
On 21 January 2019, Sala boarded a Piper PA-46 Malibu aircraft to travel from Nantes to Cardiff. The plane lost contact over the English Channel. The aircraft was later found on the seabed near the Channel Islands, and Sala’s body was recovered following a complex underwater search.
Investigation and Official Findings
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) concluded that the pilot, David Ibbotson, likely became disoriented due to poor visibility and insufficient instrument training. The AAIB report cited pilot error, inadequate aircraft equipment, and exposure to carbon monoxide as contributing factors. The official report is available on the AAIB website.
