No sign of light aircraft missing off Alderney - French authorities confirm Cardiff City footballer was on-board
NO trace of the light aircraft that was lost while flying off Alderney last night has been found.
French media have reported that Argentinian footballer Emiliano Sala was on board - he had recently signed for Cardiff City.
Guernsey Coastguard received an alert at 8.23pm from Jersey air traffic control, that a light aircraft had gone off their radar approximately 15 miles north of Guernsey, initiating a major search and rescue operation involving both St Peter Port and Alderney lifeboats.
Air Search 1 and HM Coastguard helicopters from Solent and Newquay were also involved in the operation.
The PA 46 Malibu, a single turbine engine aircraft, was on route from Nantes in France, to Cardiff in Wales, with two people on board when it was lost off radar as Jersey ATC was attempting to make contact.
'At that time there were some showers around, but nothing too intense. Wind speeds were not too bad - average speeds were around 15 to 20mph,' Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said.
A search model was created based on the likely ditching position, and all search and rescue assets were sent to the area.
The search was terminated at 2am due to strengthening winds, worsening sea conditions and reducing visibility.
Nantes striker Sala was announced as a new signing for Premier League club Cardiff City on Saturday.
French media, quoting police sources, said the 28-year-old striker was on the light aircraft having been driven to the airport by Nantes defender Nicolas Pallois.
Cardiff paid a club record fee in the region of £15 million for the footballer, one of the leading scorers in the French Ligue 1.
Cardiff City FC chief executive Ken Choo said: 'We were very shocked upon hearing the news that the plane had gone missing. We expected Emiliano to arrive last night into Cardiff and today was due to be his first day with the team.
'Our owner, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, and chairman, Mehmet Dalman, are all very distressed about the situation.
'We made the decision first thing this morning to call off training with the thoughts of the squad, management staff and the entire club with Emiliano and the pilot.
'All of us at Cardiff City FC would like to thank our fans, and the entire footballing family for their support at this difficult time.
'We continue to pray for positive news.'
Air Search 1 and a French rescue helicopter based in Cherbourg resumed the search of the area at 8am.
At 10.20am Guernsey Police said there were two helicopters, two planes and one lifeboat searching.
Alderney’s RNLI all weather lifeboat Roy Barker I was relaunched at 8.40am.
'Today's search will focus on the area to the west of Casquets Lighthouse, the north of Alderney, the Alderney Race and to the south of the island,' a Alderney RNLI spokeswoman said.
'The Alderney Lifeboat will be searching alongside a French Coastguard Helicopter and Channel Island Air Search and Rescue aircraft.'
John Fitzgerald, chief executive of the Channel Islands Air Search, said: 'We were called out by Guernsey Coastguard at 8.30pm, just as the aircraft had dropped off the radar and we were over Alderney by about 9pm.
'We stayed there until midnight before we flew back to Guernsey to change over the crew and refuel.
'There was about 15 to 20 miles visibility so we could see quite a lot during the first search but the lifeboats found it quite difficult. That area is always quite rough but from 1,000 feet, we can see straight down. It was not that bad but at about 2 or 3 am wintry showers set in and the search was postponed. We went out again at 8am.’
Mr Fitzgerald added that the plane could have glided for around five or six miles without a working engine.
He said the probability of finding anyone from the missing aircraft was 'reducing very rapidly'.
'I think with the sea temperatures and the sea conditions the chances of finding anybody alive are reducing all the time,' he said.
'The sea temperatures are very, very cold and just sap the core temperature of anybody in the water very, very quickly.'
By lunchtime more than 1,000sq miles had been searched by a total of five aircraft and two lifeboats.
Guernsey police said: 'UK authorities have been calling airfields on the south coast to see if it landed there. So far we have no confirmation that it did. The search will continue throughout the afternoon, with a decision taken at sunset as to whether it will carry on overnight.'
