Emiliano Sala: Footballer died after plane broke up mid-air

A jury has found that football player Emiliano Sala died from head and trunk injuries when the plane he was in crashed.

He was likely to have been unconscious from carbon monoxide poisoning on the flight.

The plane that Sala and Ibbotson were in crashed in the English Channel.

He was going to join Cardiff City from France.

David Henderson was sentenced to 18 months in prison for arranging the flight.

Toxic levels of carbon monoxide from the faulty exhaust system of the aircraft caused the death of Sala, according to the jury.

The body of Mr Ibbotson has never been found.

The impact his death had on the family was described by his brother.

We couldn't accept it, we just couldn't believe it. It was shocking to us as a family. He said that they will never really believe it.

My brother was always the best before he became a professional footballer and came over here.

Henderson was investigated for illegal public transport flights before, but he was not monitored after the initial investigation.

Image source, AFP

When the plane crashed, he arranged for Mr Ibbotson to take the footballer back to Nantes.

The jury heard that Sala had a high level of carbon monoxide in his blood.

Image source, Family photo

Brian McDermid, who works for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, said that carbon monoxide most likely came from exhaust gases in the cabin through a heating system.

It could have been the result of pressure testing not being done on the plane's exhaust system.

He said there was no legal requirement for such tests, as there was no evidence that the aircraft was not fit to fly.

Image source, AAIB

The inquest had a bright light on the missed opportunities in the worlds of football and aviation to prevent his tragic death.

The jury found that carbon monoxide poisoning may have been caused by a failure in the aircraft exhaust system, and that the pilot and Emiliano may have died from it.

The family is happy that the coroner communicated her concerns about the safety issues arising from this inquest in order to prevent future deaths. No family should have to grieve from a similar accident.

The Civil Aviation Authority should be given more powers to tackle illegal flights and the risks associated with them, according to the Coroner for Dorset.

She is sending her prevention of future deaths report to the UK Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary in order to discourage the use of illegal flights.

Image source, Getty Images

The deal was not legally binding, as they claimed, and they refused to make interim payments because they were not liable for any of the fee.

The case is being heard in Lausanne.

The verdict was respected by the city and it hoped that the Sala family would have a sense of peace.

The truth has been firmly established in a court of law, particularly the facts surrounding the illegal flight, a spokesman said.