SALA’S PLANE MAY HAVE BEEN BROUGHT DOWN BY ICE

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An aviation expert has said they believe Cardiff’s new signing, Emiliano Sala’s WhatsApp messages about the state of the plane flown by pilot Dave Ibbotson indicated “classic signs” of ice.

The expert told the Sun: “There are reports that the footballer was texting saying the aircraft is shaking and breaking up are classic signs of icing on the wings”.

“The pilot is most likely wrestling with a stall at 2,300ft.”

They added the plane would have landed in one piece, otherwise, the wreckage of the aircraft would have been found by now.

Sala was Cardiff City’s record £15million signing after joining the club at the weekend. But after the plane went missing on Monday evening, Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman admitted “it doesn’t look good” for the striker and pilot David Ibbotson.

Guernsey Police will make a decision on Thursday morning whether to recommence the search around the island of Alderney, with rescue teams having found “no trace” of the light aircraft.

Mr Dalman, who described Sala’s disappearance as a “tragic accident”, said the Piper PA-46 Malibu plane was not organised by the club.

He also said the sister of the Argentinian player was on her way to South Wales.

“We continue to collect data to try to understand what happened from this end,” Mr Dalman told Sky Sports News.

“Everything points towards a tragic accident, it really does.

“We will continue to hope and pray. But we also have to be realistic, it doesn’t look good at this very moment.”