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A body recovered from underwater wreckage of the plane carrying Emiliano Sala has been formally identified as the footballer, police said.
Sala (28) was identified by the Dorset coroner on Thursday after his body was pulled from the plane, which had been flown by pilot David Ibbotson, the previous day.
The families of both men have been informed, police said.
#Update The body brought to Portland Port today has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala.
— Dorset Police (@dorsetpolice) February 7, 2019
The families of Mr Sala and pilot David Ibbotson have been updated. Our thoughts remain with them all
https://t.co/YpVTvaEt7P
Club Statement (07/02/19): https://t.co/ib8zJfWzvC
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) February 7, 2019
Forever in our thoughts
The force said in a statement: “The body brought to Portland Port today, Thursday, February 7th, 2019, has been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala.
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“The families of Mr Sala and the pilot David Ibbotson have been updated with this news and 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.”
Cardiff City Football Club said in a statement: “We offer our most heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the family of Emiliano.
“He and David will forever remain in our thoughts.”
The Piper Malibu N264DB plane lost contact with air traffic control over the Channel, north of Guernsey, on January 21st.
An initial search and rescue operation failed to locate the plane but it was later discovered by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) and privately funded search teams.
The aircraft remains 67 metres underwater around 33km off the coast of Guernsey in the English Channel as poor weather conditions stopped efforts to recover it.
The AAIB has said it expects to publish an interim report within the month.
Cardiff had signed Sala for a club record €17 million and he was due to start training last month.
Nantes has demanded payment from Cardiff for the player's transfer. – PA