Cardiff new signing feared dead amid hunt for missing plane

The desperate search for a missing plane with new Premier League footballer Emiliano Sala on board has been called off for the night, police have said.

The 28-year-old Argentine was on his way to meet his new colleagues at Cardiff City after signing for the club last week in a £15 million deal when his plane vanished from radar screens.

Sala was travelling back to Wales from Nantes in Brittany after signing with the Welsh club.

In an update on Tuesday afternoon, Guernsey police said if the plane did land in the water chances of survival are “slim” and that officers searching for the light aircraft have ceased operations for the day.

The search will resume first thing in the morning. Floating objects have been discovered in the water but police said these have not been confirmed to be parts of the plane.

The striker’s father today say he only found out his son was missing when he saw it on local television news.

Horacio Sala told Argentina’s C5N TV channel “I don’t know anything. I can’t believe it. I’m desperate.”

He added: “The signing (for Cardiff) had been such a joy for him and for everyone, for our town. He’s a humble boy.”

“The only thing I know is that it was a small plane,” he said, before adding: “They’re saying that the plane lost control in the channel. I don’t know what could’ve happened. I’m speechless.”

Sala’s mother Mercedes said he had been “enjoying the best moment of his career.”

“We are just here waiting, minute after minute. I spoke to him a few hours before he took off. I don’t know what else to say, I’m so worried.

“We are in constant communication and desperate for good news. He was very happy and content with the transfer. He was enjoying the best moment of his career so far.”

Cardiff says it is “very distressed” about the fate of Sala after the plane bringing him to Wales disappeared from radar.