The search for a light aircraft carrying Argentinian footballer Emiliano Sala and at least one other person that went missing over the English Channel resumed Wednesday.
Police in Guernsey, a channel island off the coast of northwest France, said two planes will be searching an area ‘we believe has the highest likelihood of finding anything, based on review of the tides and weather since it went missing.’
Police are looking at a number of scenarios including that the plane landed elsewhere but has not yet made contact; a passing ship picked those on board up after a water landing; the on-board life raft was being used; the plane broke up on contact with water, leaving all out at sea.
‘Our search area is prioritised on the life raft option,’ police said on Twitter.
The PA 46 Malibu aircraft disappeared from radar Monday night as it was taking Sala, 28, to Wales from France after he recently signed with Premier League club Cardiff City.
Guernsey police said a total of two people were on the craft, however France Info reported there were two passengers and a pilot on board.
Meanwhile, Sala's most recent WhatsApp message which has emerged indicated that the 28-year-old was frightened before the plane's disappearance: ‘If you don't hear any news from me in one and a half hours... I don't know if they'll even send anyone to look for me because they won't find me anyway. Then you'll know what's up. Papa, I'm so scared.’ The Argentine newspaper Clarin published the one-minute voice message sent to a friend. The player's father, Horacio Sala, confirmed its authenticity.
Cardiff announced Saturday it had signed Sala from French side Nantes for a club-record fee reported to be 15 million pounds (19 million dollars).
