Argentine professional soccer player Emiliano Sala, who just signed with Cardiff City from Nantes last week for a club-record fee, has gone missing after the plane he was on disappeared over the English Channel on Monday night.
According to the BBC, Guernsey Police said there was “no trace” of the Cardiff-bound flight.
Sala’s father, Horacio, told Argentine TV channel C5N, he heard the news from a friend.
“I didn’t know anything. I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I’m desperate. I hope everything goes well.”
As BBC reports, the plane left Nantes France at 7:15 p.m. local time and was flying at 5,000 feet when it contracted air traffic control requesting descent. The plane then lost contact while at 2,300 feet and disappeared off the radar.
Police said on Tuesday more than 1,150sq miles had been searched by five aircraft and two lifeboats. The search had resumed after being called off overnight “due to strengthening winds, worsening sea conditions and reducing visibility”.
Ken Choo, chief executive of the Bluebirds, said: “We were very shocked upon hearing the news that the plane had gone missing. “We expected Emiliano to arrive last night into Cardiff and today was due to be his first day with the team. Our owner, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, and chairman, Mehmet Dalman, are all very distressed about the situation.”
FC Nantes supporters gather in Nantes after it was announced that Emiliano Sala was missing. They are praying and hoping that Sala be found.
Flowers and candles have been placed in Nantes’ main square as search for Emiliano Sala continues.