Emiliano Sala: Body recovered from wreckage of plane identified as missing Cardiff striker

Operation to recover plane wreckage of the plane has now been abandoned

A body pulled from the wreckage of a plane carrying Emiliano Sala has been identified as that of the missing Cardiff striker, police have said.

Sala, 28, was the only passenger on the aircraft being flown by British pilot David Ibbotson when it went missing on 21 January.

The wreckage of the plane was discovered on the seabed of the English Channel last week between Guernsey and the Devon coastline.

Dorset Police said the families of Sala and the pilot David Ibbotson have been informed.

In a statement police said they "will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers.

"Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.

"HM Coroner will continue to investigate the circumstances of this death supported by Dorset Police."

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) announced that the operation to recover the wreckage of the plane would now be abandoned.

They said the recovery was carried out in “as dignified a way as possible” and the men’s families were kept updated throughout.

But poor weather conditions have hampered efforts to bring the wreckage to the surface and the decision was made today to end the operation.

The Piper Malibu N264DB aircraft was flying from France to Cardiff, after the Argentine striker made a quick trip back to his former club Nantes.

Two days earlier Sala had completed a £15m transfer to Cardiff City.