Emiliano Sala Plane Crash: How Did It Happen?

On January 21, 2019, Argentina footballer Emiliano Sala was flown by a Piper Malibu aircraft, from Nantes to Cardiff, and disappeared off Alderney.

Few days before, the same aircraft and pilot had reportedly flown Sala to Nantes.

The search for the missing aircraft began and about a week later, Sala’s body was recovered from a wreckage underwater.

Results from the post mortem conducted showed that Sala had died of “head and trunk injuries” and toxicology tests showed that his body had been exposed to excess carbon monoxide.

The aircraft organizer, David Henderson was arrested and charged with manslaughter for arranging a flight without a lincense and without considering the safety of lives.

Where Was Sala Heading To When He Died?

Sala was flying to Wales from France to join Cardiff City, when the unlicensed private aircraft he boarded split mid-air.

Sala had sustained serious head and chest injuries and went into coma after inhaling so much of the poisonous fumes from the aircraft’s exhaust system.

Reports revealed that the plane was flown by pilot David Ibbotson, 59, who had no license to fly at night.

The plane had crashed in the English Channel close to Guernsey.

Sala had just signed a  £15m transfer deal with the then Premier League club Cardiff City, and was on his way to join his new club when he met his death.