Emiliano Sala: AAIB Interim report on cause of plane crash

On Monday, February 28 2019, the Air Accident Investigations Branch released an interim report on the plane crash that claimed the life of Cardiff City player Emiliano Sala, and presumably that of the plane's pilot, David Ibbotson, still missing. The AAIB found out that the Piper Malibu fell thousands of feet in the space of 20 seconds after making a 180-degree turn, four minutes after Ibbotson requested a descent. He probably requested a descent to avoid clouds and maintain vision. The aircraft is said to have dropped almost vertically in its final moments. Unconfirmed radar readings reveal that the plane may have climbed rapidly before its final descent. The AAIB report reveals that the doomed aircraft was found in three pieces on the seabed of the English Channel (68 meters below the surface), the parts held together by cables.

"From the ROV video examination it was possible to establish that the aircraft was extensively damaged," the AAIB report said.

"The main body of the aircraft was in three parts held together by electrical and flying control cables.

"The engine had disconnected from the cockpit area, and the rear section of the fuselage had broken away from the forward section adjacent to the trailing edge of the wing.

"The outboard section of both wings, tail plane and fin were missing."

Underwater wreckage of the Piper Malibu aircraft on the seabed of the English Channel

Images that were earlier taken of the plane wreckage by the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) were released by the AAIB.

They also confirmed David Ibbotson held a private pilot's license. The interim report said he could only fly passengers in the EU on a cost sharing basis, not for profit. Cost sharing permits pilots to notch up their flying hours while sharing the cost of fuel, landing fees and other expenses with passengers.

Emiliano Sala

Conclusions have not yet been reached on the exact cause of the crash. The complete findings of the AAIB investigation will possibly take more than a year before it is released. They will continue to look at all "operational, technical, organizational and human factors" which might have contributed to the crash. "We have gathered evidence from radar, weather reports, video of the aircraft on the seabed and interviews with witnesses," said an AAIB spokesman.

"Some operational aspects are yet to be determined, such as the validity of the pilot's license and ratings.

"Our priority now is to go through the evidence, much of which is extensive and complex, so we can piece together what happened between the aircraft being lost from radar and it coming to rest on the sea bed.

"This will help us understand the potential causes of the accident."

The aircraft that crashed into the English Channel

David Ibbotson's body is yet to be located after the deadly crash on January 21 2019.