UK agrees to extend search for missing footballer

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) – The British government has ordered an underwater search for an aircraft that vanished from the radar last week near the Channel Islands while carrying Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala to the UK, the Argentine Embassy in London said Wednesday.

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt confirmed that his government has agreed to the Argentine government's request to extend the search for the missing aircraft in which Sala and pilot David Ibbotson were traveling from Nantes to Cardiff, the embassy said in a statement.

In a letter addressed to his Argentine counterpart Jorge Faurie, Hunt said as soon as the weather allows, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch will launch the underwater search.

News of the search followed reports that two seat cushions believed to be from the missing airplane had washed up on a beach in northern France about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from where the plane was last spotted on radar last week.

The Argentine footballer was on his way to join his new club, Cardiff City FC, after he signed a contract worth £15 million (about $19.7 million).

Sala reportedly sent a message via voicemail to his father saying he was frightened that the plane was about to break up.

According to media reports in Argentina, he said: "I’m here on a plane that looks like it’s about to fall apart, and I’m going to Cardiff.

"If in an hour and a half you have no news from me, I don’t know if they are going to send someone to look for me because they cannot find me, but you know … Dad, how scared am I!”

Search and rescue efforts failed to find the plane or any survivors and they were called off on the third day.

Hunt expressed solidarity with Emiliano´s family, the Argentine Embassy said.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Emiliano.”