Emiliano Sala: Search for Cardiff City striker and pilot abandoned

The search was called off after a fourth unsuccessful day since the aircraft disappeared off radars on Monday night north of Guernsey - updates from Thursday

Fans gather in Nantes Royal Square to lay yellow tulips during vigil for Emiliano Sala

Follow the latest updates as the search for Emiliano Sala, a pilot and a missing plane was called off on Thursday afternoon without any trace of the missing Cardiff City striker in the English Channel.

The search was called off after a fourth unsuccessful day since the aircraft disappeared off radars on Monday night north of Guernsey. After officials confirmed that the priority of the search changed from a rescue mission to a recovery operation, a statement from police said that Thursday search will focus on coastal areas of the Channel Islands and northern France, yet this turned up nothing linked to the missing aircraft.

Cardiff City have said that they are “realistic” about the fate of Sala, who joined the club in a £15m deal last weekend, and revelations about the aeroplane that was carrying Sala and pilot Dave Ibbotson continue to emerge, including a voice message left by Sala to his friends in Argentina in the final hours before he disappeared complaining about the condition of the plane and his fear for his safety. Follow the live updates below.

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[22 January 2019 10:35 · Jack de Menezes]

Guernsey Police has issued a latest update on the search attempts, confirming that they have two helicopters from the British coastguard assisting two planes and a lifeboat in searching for any sign of the aircraft.

[22 January 2019 10:45 · Jack de Menezes]

The plane that went missing, and is believed to have been carrying Sala and one other, was a Piper Malibu model light aircraft, similar to this one:

[22 January 2019 10:57 · Jack de Menezes]

Speaking to CNEWS in France, Nantes president Waldemar Kita has spoken about Sala, describing him as "an adorable boy" that took the time to come into the club on Monday even though he no longer played for them in order to say goodbye.

I think Emiliano Sala wanted to say goodbye to his friends. He's a polite boy, kind, adorable, loved by everyone... always very respectful, very courteous. I think of his family, of all his friends. Sincerely, he's an adorable boy.

[22 January 2019 10:59 · Jack de Menezes]

BREAKINGThe French civil aviation authority has confirmed that Emiliano Sala was on the flight that went missing in the Channel on Monday night, which French and British maritime authorities are continuing to search for near the island of Alderney.

[22 January 2019 11:10 · Jack de Menezes]

[22 January 2019 11:19 · Jack de Menezes]

France TV presenter Fabien Leveque is reporting that Nantes defender Nicolas Pallois was the last of the club's players to see Sala before he boarded the flight on Monday evening.

[22 January 2019 11:30 · Jack de Menezes]

One of Sala's former club's, Chamois Niortais, has posted a message on Twitter that reads: “Tell us it’s a joke... Emi.... All the #TeamChamois thinking of you.”

[22 January 2019 11:40 · Jack de Menezes]

Chief executive of the Channel Islands Air Search, John Fitzgerald has 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 3am wintry showers set in and the search was postponed. We went out again at 8am.

[22 January 2019 11:42 · Jack de Menezes]

Sala's parents, Horacio and Mercedes, have spoken to Argentine media after being informed of their son's plane disappearing.

Horacio Sala, speaking to Argentine radio and television from Rosario in his homeland: "I don't know anything. I'm in Argentina. I spoke to Emiliano on Sunday.

"Still nobody from Nantes has communicated with us, we are worried, desperate, this took us all by surprise.

"I don't have any information on the journey, the only thing I know is that it was a small plane.

"They are saying that the plane lost control in the channel. I don't know what could have happened. I am speechless."

[22 January 2019 11:50 · Jack de Menezes]

The Argentine embassy in London is still awaiting information regarding the missing flight after hearing of the French civil aviation authorities' claim that Sala was on board the flight, Associated Press' Rob Harris is reporting.