A man has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the death of Emiliano Sala, Dorset Police said.

Detectives investigating the death of the Cardiff City footballer have arrested a 64-year-old man from North Yorkshire on suspicion of manslaughter by an unlawful act, police said.

Sala 28, died after the plane he was travelling in crashed into the English Channel in January. He had just completed a £15 million transfer to Cardiff City.

The striker was in a small plane flown by British pilot David Ibbotson from France, where he had played for Nantes FC, to Wales when it disappeared from radar on 21 January.

Sala’s remains were recovered from the wreckage of the Piper Malibu aircraft following an extensive, and partly privately-funded, two-week search. Ibbotson’s body has not been found.

Detective Inspector Simon Huxter, of Dorset Police’s Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT), said: “We have carried out a wide-ranging investigation into the circumstances of the death of Mr Sala and continue to work with partner agencies including the Civil Aviation Authority.

“As part of this investigation we have to consider whether there is any evidence of any suspected criminality and as a result of our enquiries we have today, Wednesday 19 June 2019, arrested a 64-year-old man from the North Yorkshire area on suspicion of manslaughter by an unlawful act.

“He is assisting with our enquiries and has been released from custody under investigation.”

Huxter said the matter was still subject to a live investigation and asked the media and members of the public to refrain from speculation, as this could cause additional distress to the families involved as well as potentially hinder the investigation.

He added that they would not be releasing any further information as to the identity of the individual who has been arrested unless that person is charged to appear in court.

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