Emiliano Sala plane FOUND: Plane located with BODY inside - first pictures of wreckage
THE search team hunting for the plane which went missing while carrying Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson say they have located the plane and a body.
Emiliano Sala: Search team announce they have located the plane
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has since confirmed that underwater video footage shows one occupant visible in the wreckage of the plane, but are yet to confirm the identity. In a statement the AAIB said: “Based on analysis of ROV video footage, the AAIB investigators on board the vessel concluded that the object is wreckage from the missing Piper Malibu aircraft.” It added: "Tragically, in video footage from the ROV, one occupant is visible amidst the wreckage. The AAIB is now considering the next steps, in consultation with the families of the pilot and passenger, and the police."
Marine scientist David Mearns earlier told Sky News the wreckage has been discovered in the English Channel.
The part-privately funded search team only began work yesterday morning. Mr Mearns told reporters the family of Sala and pilot David Ibbotson have been informed of the discovery.
Mr Mearns also said on Twitter: "Wreckage of the plane carrying Emiliano Sala and piloted by David Ibbotson was located early this morning by the FPV MORVEN.
"As agreed with the AAIB they moved the GEO OCEAN III over the position we provided them to visually identify the plane by ROV. #EmilianoSala."
Mr Mearns added: "The families of Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson have been notified by Police. The AAIB will be making a statement tomorrow.
Tonight our sole thoughts are with the families and friends of Emiliano and David."
The plane lost connection with air traffic control on January 21 as the plane was making its say from Nantes in France to Wales.
The search was called off days later but was restarted this weekend after a fundraising campaign.
Mr Mearns was directing two vessels across a four-mile square area of water, 24 miles from the island of Guernsey in the English Channel.
READ MORE: Where is the plane carrying Emiliano Sala? - latest updates
Meanwhile the father of the former Nantes forward spoke for the first time since hearing the news stated he is “desperate” and described the finding as “a dream” as he struggles to come to terms with the traumatic events.
Speaking at his home in Argentina to broadcaster Cronica TV, Horacio Sala said: “I cannot believe it. This is a dream. A bad dream. I am desperate.
"I communicated with them every day, but since I do not have WhatsApp it's hard to call them or call me.
"They told me that the days passed and there was no news of Emiliano or the plane."
READ MORE: Emiliano Sala latest: Heartbroken father speaks out after wreckage of missing plane found
The family of Sala vowed to not give up and the privately funded operation raised more than £260,000.
He was yet to play a game for the Premier League side before he went missing.
Sala was in the west France city to say goodbye to teammates at his old club.
The disappearance of the £15million striker sparked a huge outpouring of tributes across the football world, including from fellow Argentinians Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero.
Manchester City striker Aguero called for the search to carry on.
He tweeted last week: "We don't want to give up, we want to hold on to hope.
"That's why I also wish #NoDejenDeBuscar - don't call off the search. From the start, my thoughts have been with Emiliano, his family and friends #PrayForSala."
Messi wrote: ”As long as there's a chance, a thread of hope, we ask that you please #DontStopLooking for Emiliano. All of my strength and support to his family and friends. #PrayForSala,"
The striker was flying in a Piper Malibu N264DB plane when it went missing.
Mr Mearns team were using sonar in a bid to find the wreckage.
Mr Mearns, the director of Blue Water Recoveries, described the mixed emotions felt upon locating parts of the aeroplane.
He told Sky News: “A plane carrying Emiliano Sala and piloted by Dave Ibbotson, 59, has been located by my crew.
"The families have been informed.
“This is about the best result we could expect for the families, but is devastating news.”
Meanwhile Mr Mearns also said it was a "possibility" that the bodies of missing pair could be found among the plane wreckage in the English Channel.
Mr Mearns said "most" of the plane was there, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We were expecting to find a debris field, it is broken, but most of it is there."
Asked whether the bodies were likely to still be on board, he said: "That's a possibility, and they will be planning for that as well so there's a number of things the AAIB have to consider but their main role obviously is to conduct their investigation of what caused this crash."
American-born Mr Mearns is a specialist in deep water search and recovery attempts.
He has previously discovered HMAS Sydney and German cruiser Kormoran - two World War Two boats which sank in 1941 off the coast of Western Australia.
Meanwhile Sala’s ex-girlfriend continues to pay tribute to the football star on social media.
Berenice Schkair, 26 posted several heart-warming photos of the 28-year-old on her Instagram story today with a love heart and the caption #PRAYFOREMILIANOSALA
Cardiff City players also took part in an emotion-filled match against Bournemouth on Saturday, which saw the Welsh side win 2-0.
After the match Cardiff boss Neil Warnock paid tribute to the missing striker.
Warnock said: "I'm really proud and I'm sure he would have been."