The plane carrying footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson that went missing over the English Channel last month has been found.
Private investigators told Sky News wreckage was discovered on Sunday on the seabed and the men’s families had been informed.
David Mearns, a marine scientist who is directing the private search, said on Twitter: “Wreckage of the plane carrying Emiliano Sala and piloted by David Ibbotson was located early this morning by the FPV MORVEN.”
A private search mission, funded by Sala’s family, had been focussed on an area of 25sq nautical mile area of north of Alderney in the Channel Islands.
The small aircraft, a Piper Malibu, vanished on Monday evening near to the Channel Islands. The aircraft was transporting Cardiff City striker Sala, 28, who was due to begin training for the Welsh side following his transfer from FC Nantes last week.
Sala was onboard the plane alongside British pilot David Ibbotson, 59, from Lincolnshire. The plane lost contact near the Casquets lighthouse around eight miles north-west of Alderney at 8.30pm on 21 January.
The family of the Argentine player – who earned Cardiff’s biggest-ever fee of a reported £15m – has fundraised tens of thousands of pounds for the private search by deep sea expert David Mearns.
Seat cushions likely to be from the missing plane washed up on a beach in north-western France last week.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Mearns said: “This is about the best result we could have hoped for the families.
“But tonight they have heard devastating news and in respect of the families I won’t comment any further about what has happened.”
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