The body of Argentinian footballer Emiliano Sala has been formally identified after being recovered from underwater wreckage in the English Channel.
Sala was identified by the Dorset coroner a day after his body was pulled from the plane, which had been flown by pilot David Ibbotson.
Mr Ibbotson’s body has not yet been found.
The families of both men have been informed, police said.
The private plane, a Piper Malibu N264DB, lost contact with air traffic control over the Channel, north of Guernsey, on Monday 21 January.
Sala had been travelling from Nantes in France to Cardiff, where he was due to begin training with his new club last month.
Privately funded search
An initial search and rescue operation failed to locate the plane but it was later discovered by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) and privately funded search teams.
Shipwreck hunting expert David Mearns, who assisted in the second search, said his thoughts were with the family and friends of both Sala and Mr Ibbotson.
Rest in Peace Emiliano. I was glad to provide some small comfort to Romina, Mercedes and the whole Sala family during the past two weeks but my heart goes out to the family and friends of David Ibbotson whose loss is the same. "Emiliano Sala" pic.twitter.com/FNLdYjE7M1
— David Mearns (@davidlmearns) February 8, 2019
He tweeted: “Rest in Peace Emiliano.
“I was glad to provide some small comfort to Romina, Mercedes and the whole Sala family during the past two weeks but my heart goes out to the family and friends of David Ibbotson whose loss is the same.”
The aircraft remains 67 metres underwater 21 miles off the coast of Guernsey in the English Channel as poor weather conditions stopped efforts to recover it.
Dorset Police said in a statement: “The body brought to Portland Port today, Thursday February 7 2019, has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala.
“The families of Mr Sala and the pilot David Ibbotson have been updated with this news and will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers.
“Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.
“HM Coroner will continue to investigate the circumstances of this death supported by Dorset Police.”
The AAIB has said it expects to publish an interim report within the month.
Emiliano Sala’s plane crash: a timeline of events
January 21, 2019:
The single-turbine engine Piper PA-46 Malibu leaves Nantes at 7.15pm for Cardiff and is flying at an altitude of 5,000ft.
An air and sea search is launched at 8.50pm after the plane disappears from radar in the English Channel.
January 22:
The French civil aviation authority confirms Argentinian footballer Emiliano Sala, 28, who had just signed for Cardiff City, was on board the light aircraft. Piloting the plane was David Ibbotson, from Crowle, near Scunthorpe.
January 24:
Guernsey’s harbour master Captain David Barker says the chancesSala and Mr Ibbotson have survived is “extremely remote”.
After more than 24 hours of continuous searching, with 80 hours combined flying time across three planes and five helicopters, as well as the help of two lifeboats, passing ships and fishing boats, the search is officially called off.
But the footballer’s sister, Romina Sala, begs rescue workers to keep looking for the plane, telling reporters in Cardiff that she feels her brother and his pilot are still alive.
January 25:
Further pleas for the search to resume come from Argentinian football stars Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Sergio Aguero, and the country’s president Mauricio Macri.
Donations to fund a private search quickly run into the tens of thousands of pounds.
January 26:
It emerges that football agent Willie McKay arranged for the flight to take Sala to Cardiff but he says he had no involvement in selecting the plane or pilot. He also backs calls for the search to continue.
January 27:
Relatives and friends of Sala arrive in Guernsey, having enlisted the help of shipwreck hunting expert David Mearns.
The US-born marine scientist, author and explorer, who is based in the UK, says the family still have “some hope”.
January 28:
Sala‘s family, including his mother Mercedes and sister Romina, take a chartered flight in a plane operated by Guernsey airline Aurigny over the area where the plane disappeared.
January 30:
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) says two seat cushions found washed up earlier in the week near Surtainville on the Cotentin Peninsula are likely to have come from the plane carrying Sala and his pilot.
February 3:
Wreckage of the plane is located in a fresh, privately funded search which was made possible after a fundraising campaign saw more than £260,000 donated.
February 4:
A body is visible in seabed video footage of the wreckage of the plane. The AAIB says the footage was filmed using an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) which was surveying the area after the plane was located.
February 6:
A body seen in the wreckage of the plane is recovered. The AAIB says the body will be taken to Portland to be passed over to the Dorset coroner for examination.
The aircraft remains 67 metres underwater 21 miles off the coast of Guernsey in the English Channel as poor weather conditions stopped efforts to recover it.
An AAIB spokesman says attempts to recover the aircraft wreckage were unsuccessful and, due to continued poor weather forecast, “the difficult decision was taken to bring the overall operation to a close”.
February 7:
Dorset Police confirms that the body recovered from the plane is that of Sala.
Player set for Premier League
Cardiff had signed Sala for a club record £15 million and he was due to start training last month.
Nantes has demanded payment from Cardiff for the player’s transfer.
Cardiff City Football Club said in a statement: “We offer our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Emiliano.
“He and David will forever remain in our thoughts.”
Club Statement (07/02/19): https://t.co/ib8zJfWzvC
Forever in our thoughts
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) February 7, 2019
Other tributes were paid by Arsenal player Mesut Ozil, Manchester City’s Benjamin Mendy and Paris Saint-Germain footballer Kylian Mbappe.
Ozil tweeted: “No words to describe how sad this is. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and also to the family of the pilot. #RIPsala”.
No words to describe how sad this is.
Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and also to the family of the pilot.
#RIPsala pic.twitter.com/Uirj6etfZk
— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) February 7, 2019
With additional reporting from the Press Association
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