Emiliano Sala’s ex calls for the ‘soccer mafia to be investigated’

Emiliano Sala’s heartbroken underwear model ex-girlfriend today blamed the ‘football mafia’ after his plane vanished over the Channel and said: ‘I can’t believe this is an accident’.

Victoria’s Secret star Berenice Schkair, 27, made the extraordinary claim on social media after the new Cardiff City star’s plane went missing over the English Channel after taking off in Nantes, France.

Sala and his pilot last made contact from their Piper FA-46 Malibu just off Alderney at 8.30pm on Monday and the pair are missing presumed dead after wreckage was spotted in the sea. 

On Twitter last night Berenice tweeted: ‘Investigate the football mafia because I don’t believe this was an accident’ before deleting it. 

Lifeboats, helicopters and even locals in fishing boats have been scouring the sea for him – but have had to stop between dusk and dawn.

Posting photographs of them together, she wrote on Instagram: ‘Emi, my heart is broken. I still cannot understand it. I’m destroyed, I feel pain, fear and anger for not being able to do anything. I know you’re strong. We are waiting for you.

‘I want to wake up and all of this to be a lie. Please investigate because I cannot believe this is an accident. Don’t suspend the search for bad weather when you only just found objects floating.

‘They’re losing time and aren’t investigating. The thing I regret most is not having told you that you made me feel like I haven’t felt in a while and I love you. Why does this misfortune happen to such a fascinating man full of projects, hard working, a good person dedicated to his job’. 

Model Berenice Schkair, 27, made the extraordinary claim on social media after the new Cardiff City star’s plane went missing over the English Channel after taking off in Nantes, France

The couple were together for some time - and may have become engaged - before they split last year, sources have said

The couple were together for some time - and may have become engaged - before they split last year, sources have said

The couple were together for some time – and may have become engaged – before they split last year, sources have said

Berenice tweeted that the 'football mafia' should be investigated in a clear claim the crash was deliberate - but later deleted it

Berenice tweeted that the ‘football mafia’ should be investigated in a clear claim the crash was deliberate – but later deleted it

The model posted a series of message on Instagram where she said she had not given up hope that her ex would be found alive

The model posted a series of message on Instagram where she said she had not given up hope that her ex would be found alive

When asked by Argentine media outlet Infobae for a comment, she said: ‘The only thing I want is for him to show up. Out of respect for the family I’d prefer to wait, I’m going to say what I need to say in a few days.’

Cardiff City: Sala booked his own flight – not us 

Missing soccer star Emiliano Sala booked his own ‘risky’ private flight across the English Channel after turning down a commercial flight from Cardiff City, it was revealed today.

The £15million player was offered a flight from bosses at new club Cardiff City but wanted to make his own travel arrangements from his former club in Nantes.

City chairman Mehmet Dalman (pictured) said they were ‘still praying’ for positive news but are devastated after Sala’s plane disappeared on Monday night.

Sala, 28, was due to join his teammates in South Wales yesterday morning for training but never arrived after his 460-mile journey from Nantes to Cardiff Airport.

The plane disappeared over the Channel Islands and search teams have found no sign of a wreckage or survivors.

But Mr Dalman said Sala the flight on the Piper Malibu plane – which experts described as ‘risky’ – was not booked by the club.

Mr Dalman said: ‘We spoke to the player and asked him if he wanted us to make arrangements for his flight which, quite frankly, would have been commercial. He declined and made his own arrangements.

‘I can’t tell you who arranged the flight because I don’t know at this stage – but it certainly wasn’t Cardiff City.’

He revealed that Cardiff’s hard man manager Neil Warnock was ‘in a state of shock’ after hearing the news.

The model was born in the Tres de Febrero area of the Argentine capital Buenos Aires and is believed to have been going out with the footballer for a few months last year. 

Reports in their home country suggest they may even have been engaged before they split up. 

Guernsey Police said today they are ‘prioritising’ the theory that the new £15million Cardiff City player and the pilot made it out of the wreckage found floating in the Channel last night.

They are also working on three other possibilities – that the plane was grounded on dry land either in the Channel Islands or France, the pilot and Sala were picked up by a passing ship or they are dead in the water.

It came as aviation experts claimed that the Piper Malibu plane that Sala was travelling in had a ‘questionable’ safety record with 55 fatal crashes including 24 since 2000.

Former pilot Alastair Rosenschein said the plane may have become iced-up in the Arctic blast currently sweeping across northern Europe including the UK and France.

He said: ‘It’s already a fairly risky crossing to do in a single engine aircraft, especially in winter and definitely at night. There are icing problems too. It’s a strange thing to do though to go and fly over water with one engine at night in winter because if your engine goes you’re going in the water’. 

Emiliano’s father broke down ‘in despair’ today after hearing his son’s final message where he warned he was ‘scared’ on board a ‘plane that seems like it is falling to pieces’ minutes before it vanished over the Channel.

In the chilling recording on Monday night the Argentine footballer, 28, sounds exhausted and can’t stop yawning as he tells loved ones in Spanish they may need to ‘send someone to find me’.

Before the ‘bumpy’ flight began the pilot needed up to four attempts to take-off from Nantes in Brittany at 7.15pm as he prepared to start his new life in Cardiff after a £15million transfer. 

In a final WhatsApp audio message sent to his friends, where the sound of the plane’s engine is heard in the background, Sala said: ‘I was over in Nantes sorting things out. 

‘I am now aboard a plan that seems like it is falling to pieces. I’m going to Cardiff now, crazy, and tomorrow we get going. I will train with my new team’.

He added: ‘If you do not have any more news from in an hour and a half, I don’t know if they need to send someone to find me. I am getting scared!’  

Today coastguard helicopters, lifeboats and Channel Islanders in their own boats will resume their search at dawn after they scoured 1,100 square miles of sea before halting the search at nightfall. 

At home in Argentina his family, including father Horacio and mother Mercedes, are clinging to the hope he will be found alive, but more than 36 hours after his disappearance it appears unlikely.

Sala’s father broke down last night as he said he is ‘desperate’ for news and ‘in despair’ while the footballer’s mother said the tragedy involving her son came just as he was ‘enjoying the best moment of his career so far.’ 

Emiliano Sala (pictured on board a plane late last year) sent a WhatsApp recording to his loved-ones on board the small plane just before it vanished over the Channel 

Emiliano Sala (pictured on board a plane late last year) sent a WhatsApp recording to his loved-ones on board the small plane just before it vanished over the Channel 

Horacio and his partner Liliana cling to one another as they wait for news from the Channel - but it is expected to be bad news

Sala with his brother Dario, sister Romina and mother Mercedes

His father Horacio and his partner Liliana (left) cling to one another as they wait for news from the Channel – but it is expected to be bad news about Sala (right with his brother Dario, sister Romina and mother Mercedes)

Horacio Sala, the tearful father of Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala, outside his home in Progreso, Argentina

Horacio Sala, the tearful father of Argentine soccer player Emiliano Sala, outside his home in Progreso, Argentina

Sala played in France for FC Nantes near the Brittany coast for the past four years and the city is united in grief holding a vigil last night

Sala played in France for FC Nantes near the Brittany coast for the past four years and the city is united in grief holding a vigil last night

Yellow roses were laid in France - the colour of Nantes' shirt

Flowers were also left in Cardiff, where the star had just signed a deal to play in the Premier League

Yellow roses were laid in France – the colour of Nantes’ shirt – while flowers were also left in Cardiff, where the star had just signed a deal to play in the Premier League

'The Last Goodbye': Emiliano Sala posted this photograph on Instagram on Monday, bidding farewell to his old teammates at Nantes Football Club, after he signed a record £15 million contract with Cardiff City. It is believed to be the last photo of him

‘The Last Goodbye’: Emiliano Sala posted this photograph on Instagram on Monday, bidding farewell to his old teammates at Nantes Football Club, after he signed a record £15 million contract with Cardiff City. It is believed to be the last photo of him

Cardiff City announced the signing of the Argentinian striker (pictured with Ken Choo) in a club record fee of £15 million

Cardiff City announced the signing of the Argentinian striker (pictured with Ken Choo) in a club record fee of £15 million

They found nothing but debris and Guernsey Police said the pair’s chances of survival if they ditched in the icy waters were ‘slim’. They warned they are not expecting to find survivors. 

Earlier it emerged he told his former Nantes teammate he ‘feared for his safety’ before he took off on his doomed flight across the English Channel.

The Argentinian striker completed a £15 million move to Cardiff City on Saturday. He returned to bid farewell to his old squad at Ligue 1 side Nantes, posting a poignant photo in which his former teammates sport their club’s blue strip, and Sala is wearing a hoodie with the logo: ‘Be good, be nice.’ 

His Instagram post of the photo bore the caption: ‘The last goodbye’. 

Sala was making a round trip in the same plane and when he arrived in France, he reportedly told ex-teammate Nicolas Pallois – who drove him back to Nantes-Atlantiqe airport – that the trip out ‘had been bumpy and he feared his safety for the journey back.’ 

A French source close to the player said the six-seater plane only got airborne for the return trip after at least three failed attempts to take off from Nantes.

The 28-year-old was due to return to Wales in time for training this morning but the Piper Malibu aircraft he was in lost contact near the Casquets lighthouse off Alderney at 8.30pm on Monday.

Cardiff City chief executive Ken Choo said everyone at the club was ‘very distressed’ and ‘praying for positive news.’

On Tuesday at 5pm Channel Islands rescue teams called off the search for the day. It is expected to resume today at first light.

In a statement Guernsey Police said: ‘During the course of the 15-hour search, which used multiple air and sea assets from the Channel Islands, UK and France, a number of floating objects have been seen in the water. 

‘We have been unable to confirm whether any of these are from the missing aircraft.

‘We have found no signs of those on board. If they did land on the water, the chances of survival are at this stage, unfortunately, slim.’ 

John Fitzgerald, chief officer of the Channel Islands Air Search, said he was not optimistic about finding Sala and the pilot. 

He said: ‘I don’t think the coastguard are either. We just don’t know how it disappeared. It just completely vanished. There was no radio conversation’. 

Mr Fitzgerald said there could be a ‘five per cent’ chance of finding Sala and the pilot, adding: ‘I think with the sea temperatures and the sea conditions the chances of finding anybody alive are reducing all the time.

‘The sea temperatures are very, very cold and just sap the core temperature of anybody in the water very, very quickly.’ 

The footballer's mother, Mercedes Taffarel, said her son was 'enjoying the best moment of his career so far.' Sala posted this image of himself with his mother alongside the caption, 'Thank you mum'

The footballer’s mother, Mercedes Taffarel, said her son was ‘enjoying the best moment of his career so far.’ Sala posted this image of himself with his mother alongside the caption, ‘Thank you mum’

Emiliano Sala and Ken Choo CEO on January 18 in Cardiff as the striker got set to sign his three-and-a-half-year contact

Emiliano Sala and Ken Choo CEO on January 18 in Cardiff as the striker got set to sign his three-and-a-half-year contact

John Fitzgerald, chief officer of the Channel Islands Air Search, said he was not optimistic about finding Sala and the pilot. Pictured, the search off Alderney 

So far more than 1,155 square miles have been covered in the search for the missing aircraft

John Fitzgerald, chief officer of the Channel Islands Air Search, said he was not optimistic about finding Sala and the pilot. Pictured left, an RNLI lifeboat searches off Alderney. Right: 1,150 square miles were searched on Tuesday before nightfall

The aircraft left Nantes at 19.15 on Monday headed for Cardiff and was flying at 5,000 feet before it fell off the radar at 2,300ft during a descent cleared with Jersey air traffic controllers

This graphic shows the lifeboat's path as it circled Alderney during a nearly-24-hour-long search for the aircraft 

This graphic shows the lifeboat’s path as it circled Alderney during a nearly-24-hour-long search for the aircraft 

French police, the French civil aviation authority and Nantes Football Club confirmed that Sala was one of the two people on board the single-prop plane.

The Piper Malibu was flying at 2,300ft and requested descent as it passed Guernsey but was lost off radar as Jersey air traffic control attempted to make contact. It went missing as severe weather warnings about snow and ice were issued across France.

A search which scrambled within minutes of the plane disappearing was called off at 2am on Tuesday morning ‘due to strengthening winds, worsening sea conditions and reducing visibility’ but resumed at 8am, before being halted overnight again at sunset on Tuesday.

Thousands of people have joined vigils in France and in Wales, and have laid wreaths outside Sala’s former club in Nantes, and outside the ground of Cardiff City where he was due to start training on Tuesday morning. 

Flowers were laid at the base of the statue of Cardiff City footballer Frederick Charles Keenor outside the stadium

Flowers were laid at the base of the statue of Cardiff City footballer Frederick Charles Keenor outside the stadium

Flowers, scarves, signs and candles have been left outside the Cardiff City ground for missing footballer Emiliano Sala

Flowers, scarves, signs and candles have been left outside the Cardiff City ground for missing footballer Emiliano Sala

Welsh daffodils have been laid outside the Cardiff City ground in Wales as the team suspended training today  

Welsh daffodils have been laid outside the Cardiff City ground in Wales as the team suspended training today  

In Nantes where Sala has played since 2015, the flag of his native Argentina sat side by side with yellow tulips and candles

In Nantes where Sala has played since 2015, the flag of his native Argentina sat side by side with yellow tulips and candles

Nantes fans came to the ground to hold a vigil for their missing former player Emiliano Sala, in the hopes an air and sea rescue mission might still report good news

Nantes fans came to the ground to hold a vigil for their missing former player Emiliano Sala, in the hopes an air and sea rescue mission might still report good news

A fan poses with an edition of France Football with the former Nantes star on the cover, in a vigil for the player

A fan poses with an edition of France Football with the former Nantes star on the cover, in a vigil for the player

Outside the stadium in Nantes many fans held up Sala's number 9 shirt. He had returned to bid farewell to his former team mates before starting a new chapter of his career in the UK

Outside the stadium in Nantes many fans held up Sala’s number 9 shirt. He had returned to bid farewell to his former team mates before starting a new chapter of his career in the UK

Supporters proudly held flags and shirts, and laid yellow tulips as they paid tribute to Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala

Supporters proudly held flags and shirts, and laid yellow tulips as they paid tribute to Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala

Tearful fans held scarves and candles tonight in Nantes as the Channel Islands called off their S&R mission overnight when darkness fell. It is due to start again on Wednesday morning but officials said hopes of survival in the cold water were 'slim'

Tearful fans held scarves and candles tonight in Nantes as the Channel Islands called off their S&R mission overnight when darkness fell. It is due to start again on Wednesday morning but officials said hopes of survival in the cold water were ‘slim’

Sala, pictured with Bluebirds CEO Ken Choo, became the club's record signing last week after joining for a fee of £15m. Cardiff released this image of Sala posing with Choo on Saturday as he was given a private tour of their facilities

Sala, pictured with Bluebirds CEO Ken Choo, became the club’s record signing last week after joining for a fee of £15m. Cardiff released this image of Sala posing with Choo on Saturday as he was given a private tour of their facilities

Cardiff City ‘distressed and concerned’

Cardiff City chief executive Ken Choo said everyone at the club was ‘very distressed’ today. 

Choo 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. 

‘We made the decision first thing this morning to call off training with the thoughts of the squad, management staff and the entire club with Emiliano and the pilot.

‘All of us at Cardiff City FC would like to thank our fans, and the entire footballing family for their support at this difficult time. 

‘We continue to pray for positive news.’ 

He added in an in-house TV interview: ‘You could see from his face he is so, so happy to be here and ready to start.

‘Words cannot describe the look on his face when he met us, we walked him around the ground, he was absolutely ready to give it a go.

‘We really feel sad to hear of this news because we met such a great person.’

Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman said today: ‘We are very concerned by the latest news that a light aircraft lost contact over the Channel last night. 

‘We are awaiting confirmation before we can say anything further. We are very concerned for the safety of Emiliano Sala.’ 

This morning the official Nantes FC Twitter account posted a statement and a message to their followers about the missing striker, reading: ‘The management and the whole Club are hopeful and it is the whole family of FC Nantes who prays that @EmilianoSala1 and the other passengers of the plane are finally found safe and sound.’

‘FC Nantes joins the call of supporters for the rally tonight from 6.30 pm at the Royal Place in Nantes to drop a yellow tulip at the foot of the fountain,’ they added in a second tweet.

The club later changed its profile picture to a photo of Sala. 

Sala’s former teammate, French Guingamp midfielder Lucas Deaux, tweeted: ‘I hope from the bottom of my heart that this is not true.’ 

Sala was ‘fulfilling the dream of a lifetime’ by moving to the UK, and ‘could not wait to start playing in Cardiff’, according to a friend in France. 

When he left the grounds yesterday to head to Cardiff, Nantes FC tweeted: ‘Merci Emi, forever yellow and green.’ 

After joining Cardiff on Saturday, Sala’s sister Romina proudly shared the news story about his signing, saying: ‘Big brother :D’. 

His father Horacio told Argentine channel C5N he was made aware of the news by a friend.

He said: ‘A friend called me and told me what had happened. I’m in Rosario now, I’m working because I’m a truck driver. I didn’t know anything. I just can’t believe it. I’m desperate. I don’t know what could have happened.’

He said striker Emiliano, from the small town of Progreso in Argentina’s northeastern Santa Fe province, had been excited to be moving to Cardiff and playing in the Premier League.

He added: ‘To get the chance to play at a big European club was an amazing step for him and for his town back home. He is a humble small town boy. Everybody is watching the TV and waiting. Hopefully some good news arrives.’

His mother, Mercedes Taffarel, told the same TV station: ‘We don’t have any more news. The only thing I know is that the plane took off and they are searching for it, we don’t know anything yet, they haven’t found anything. 

‘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.

‘They called me from France to tell me that his plane had gone missing and they were looking for him. 

‘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.

‘He would come over often to visit us, and we would go to visit him there. He was alone, he didn’t have any family members with him in France.’ 

70 years of tragic football crashes

The disappearance of Emiliano Sala’s plane on Monday night is the latest air accident involving football teams and club owners.

In May 1949, 18 Torino players and five club officials died when their plane crashed as it made its approach to Turin airport.

Eight Manchester United players and three club officials died when an aircraft carrying the ‘Busby Babes’ crashed in icy conditions at Munich airport on February 6, 1958.

Eight Danish Olympic football trialists were killed in a plane crash in Copenhagen in July 1960, and in October 1996, Chelsea vice-chairman Matthew Harding, 42, died in a helicopter crash in Cheshire.

In November 2016, 19 players from Brazilian team Chapecoense died when their plane crashed in Colombia on the way to the Copa Sudamericana finals. Three players survived.

In October last year, Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the pilot and three other passengers were killed when their helicopter crashed shortly after taking off from the pitch at King Power Stadium in Leicester.

The Premier League club had signed Sala on a three-and-a-half-year contact on Saturday.    

Nantes announced their French Cup match due to be staged on Tuesday night against L’Entente Sannois Saint-Gratien had been postponed in agreement with the French Football Federation.

Amine Harit, a Moroccan footballer who played with Sala at Nantes before joining German side FC Schalke in 2017, tweeted ‘Emi..’ followed by a string of praying hands and crying emojis.

Nantes forward Randal Kolo-Muani retweeted Harit’s message on his personal account.

Sala is understood to be very close to his family in Argentina, and spoke to his mother who still lives there ‘most days’, but still believed his destiny was in Britain.

‘He’s in touch with his family all the time, mainly on WhatsApp,’ a Brittany-based source said. 

‘His mum often visits, along with his brother and sister. He’s very loyal to them all, as he is to everybody. 

‘The English Premiership was his dream, though. Emiliano is also very religious. He prays a lot. His Catholic faith is very important to him.’

 Speaking on TV channel CNEWS, Nantes President Waldemar Kita said today: ‘I think that he came back because he wanted to say goodbye to his friends. 

‘He was a polite, kind and adorable boy, loved by everyone. He was very respectful, very courteous. 

‘I am thinking about his family and all his friends. For the rest, we don’t know yet. 

‘I am still hoping that it is not finished, that he is somewhere, that he will be there. I have just found about this. 

‘I was not even aware that he was at Nantes. He is no longer owned by Nantes, he does what he wants. 

‘And I say that because I am still hopeful that we will find him.’

The official Nantes FC Twitter account posted a statement and a message to their followers about the missing striker before changing its profile picture to a photo of him

The official Nantes FC Twitter account posted a statement and a message to their followers about the missing striker before changing its profile picture to a photo of him

Sala regularly entertained fans with social media posts from his training sessions, and enjoying time off with his teammates

Sala regularly entertained fans with social media posts from his training sessions, and enjoying time off with his teammates

Emiliano Sala with his  sister Romina Sala, brother Dario Sala, and mother Mercedes Taffarel

Emiliano Sala with his sister Romina Sala, brother Dario Sala, and mother Mercedes Taffarel

Sala with his brother and sister. His family remain in Argentina, desperately awaiting updates 

Sala with his brother and sister. His family remain in Argentina, desperately awaiting updates 

Sala posted this picture on Instagram two days ago - one day after he signed his new deal - alongside the caption, '‪There is a new Sala in town @premierleague. Very happy to sign here @cardiffcityfc !! I know the challenge is big but together we will make it.‬ ‪Impatient to discover the league & the team #BlueBirds'

Sala posted this picture on Instagram two days ago – one day after he signed his new deal – alongside the caption, ‘‪There is a new Sala in town @premierleague. Very happy to sign here @cardiffcityfc !! I know the challenge is big but together we will make it.‬ ‪Impatient to discover the league & the team #BlueBirds’

Sala had celebrated his 28th birthday in October last year, and posted this photo on Twitter alongside his mother, thanking people for their messages 

Sala had celebrated his 28th birthday in October last year, and posted this photo on Twitter alongside his mother, thanking people for their messages 

Sala was grew up in Progeso, an Argentine town with only 3000 inhabitants in Santa Fe province, in the centre east of the country.

‘As a kid, I watched a lot of the English championship on TV,’ he said in a recent interview in France.

Referring to two retired French players, Sala said: ‘I liked Arsenal, with Thierry Henry and Robert Pires.’

Sala has a younger brother, an electrician, and a sister, who is a care worker, both in Argentina.

He left home when he was 15 to become a professional footballer, but is immensely loyal to his roots.

Sala could have been set to make his debut at the Emirates against Arsenal on January 29. 

Speaking on Saturday after signing for the Bluebirds, Sala said: ‘I can’t wait to start training, meet my new team-mates and get down to work.’

Also, speaking at the time of the unveiling, CEO & Executive Director, Ken Choo, added: ‘It’s obviously been a long process to secure the services of Emiliano, but I’m very pleased that we’re now in a position whereby we can confirm his signature and officially announce him as a Cardiff City player.

‘We see Emiliano as a significant acquisition and welcome him wholeheartedly to the Capital city of Wales. I’m sure all Cardiff City fans will join me in that and we can look forward to seeing our record signing in a Bluebirds shirt.’ 

Before switching to Cardiff, Sala was the third highest scorer in Ligue 1 this season with 12 goals, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Nicolas Pepe.

A Piper FA-46 Malibu light aircraft similar to the plane Sala described as sounding like it was 'falling to pieces' last night

A Piper FA-46 Malibu light aircraft similar to the plane Sala described as sounding like it was ‘falling to pieces’ last night

Sala  left Nantes to travel to Cardiff last night

The 28-year-old could have been set to make his debut at the Emirates against Arsenal on January 29

Sala left Nantes to travel to Cardiff last night. The 28-year-old (pictured left and right in 2014), could have been set to make his debut at the Emirates against Arsenal on January 29

Emiliano Sala and  Paris Saint-Germain forward, Kylian M'bappe are pictured during a game in the French Ligue 1

Emiliano Sala and Paris Saint-Germain forward, Kylian M’bappe are pictured during a game in the French Ligue 1

Troubling safety record of the Piper PA-46 Malibu 

There is no information on what may have caused this plane to disappear off radar last night.

But the aircraft – a single-prop Piper PA-46 Malibu with room for a pilot and up to five passengers – was once made the subject of a special advisory notice, an ‘airworthiness directive’ issued by US air authorities after a spate of fatal accidents. The AD, which imposed operational limitations, was later lifted.

In 1992 the USA’s National Transportation Safety Board published a Special Investigation report after Piper PA-46 series Mallibu and Mirage airplanes were involved in seven fatal accidents in the United States, Mexico, and Japan in less than two years from May 1989 to March 1991.

Between its launch in 1983, and 2008, the Malibu and its derivatives were involved in 12 crashes in which the airplane came apart in midair, killing everyone aboard. (Around 1,000 of the airplanes were built in this period.) The structural failures are accompanied by a long list of other crashes involving PA-46s.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, there have been a total of 165 serious PA-46 crashes, a rate of more than 16 per cent. These other crashes have been attributed to everything from engine failure to pilot error.

In 1990, the National Transportation Safety Board investigated the crashes to determine whether the Malibu was airworthy. Despite the high number of similar crashes, the NTSB concluded that there was nothing wrong with the Malibu’s design or construction. Instead, they pinned the accidents on a combination of pilot error and omissions in the airplane’s operating manual.

He said at the time: ‘For me it feels special [to be the Club’s record signing]. I have come here wanting to work and to help my teammates and the Club. I can’t wait to get to work straight away and do everything I can.’

Speaking earlier today, Mr Fitzgerald said the plane could have glided for around five or six miles without a working engine.

‘I am sure something will be found eventually. The plane was flying at 2,000ft when it dropped off the radar so it could have flown for about five or six miles before touching down.

‘But whether it was a controlled ditching or if it dived in, we just do not know.

‘If it was a controlled ditching, you would expect to find a life-raft but if it was uncontrolled I expect an oil slick and wreckage may be found.’ 

No decision on which country will investigate the disappearance of the aircraft carrying footballer Emiliano Sala has been announced.

Under global aviation guidelines, initial responsibility for an accident lies with the state where it occurred.

If a crash happens in international waters then the country where an aircraft is registered takes the primary role.

However, states often delegate responsibility if an accident happens far from their territory.

That means the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is likely to have some role in the inquiry into what happened to the aircraft which went missing over the Channel. An AAIB spokesman said: ‘We are liaising with the relevant authorities.’

Cardiff signed the forward in a deal reportedly worth in the region of £15million, breaking the previous record of £11million paid for Gary Medel in 2013. Sala is pictured here signing his contract on Saturday

Cardiff signed the forward in a deal reportedly worth in the region of £15million, breaking the previous record of £11million paid for Gary Medel in 2013. Sala is pictured here signing his contract on Saturday

The lighthouse on the Casquets rocks, off the coast of Alderney in the Channel Islands

Sala with his mother

Sala regularly posts photographs of his family on social media

Sala regularly posts photographs of his family on social media, including this one with his mother (left), which he captioned ‘Thank you, mum’. He is pictured with his mother, right, and his electrician brother and sister, who works in a care home

The plane lost contact near the Casquets lighthouse off the coast of Alderney

The plane lost contact near the Casquets lighthouse off the coast of Alderney

The striker often posted photos and videos with his beloved pet dog on his social media accounts  

The striker often posted photos and videos with his beloved pet dog on his social media accounts  

Not just talented on the pitch, Sala also showed off his musical ability as he posed with his guitar 

Not just talented on the pitch, Sala also showed off his musical ability as he posed with his guitar 

Sala (far right) poses on the beach with his friends as he soaks up the rays in September 2018

Sala (far right) poses on the beach with his friends as he soaks up the rays in September 2018

Last year, Leicester City’s billionaire owner and four others were killed in a helicopter crash outside the club’s grounds. 

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s aircraft was seen spiralling through the sky and into the ground shortly after taking off from the King Power Stadium last October. 

Pilot Eric Swaffer and his co-pilot Izabela Lechowicz, who was also his girlfriend, prevented greater loss of life by steering the doomed craft away from crowds of fans.

They died alongside Kaveporn Punpare, an assistant to Mr Srivaddhanaprabha and his colleague Nusara Suknamai, a former beauty queen who worked for the billionaire.

Emiliano Sala: How Premier League clubs were desperate to get their hands on the Argentinian hotshot who was beating Lionel Messi in goal charts

Sala was born in Santa Fe, the Argentine province where Lionel Messi was born, and began his football career for Proyecto Crecer in Córdoba.

The club was directly affiliated with French side FC Girondins de Bordeaux so Sala moved to Europe to sign for the club at the age of 20 and made his debut for them in February 2012 in a cup tie against Lyon.

The 6ft2ins forward then spent the whole 2012-13 season on loan at Championnat National outfit US Orléans, where he scored 19 goals in 37 domestic league appearances.

The following season he spent on loan at Ligue 2 club Chamois Niortais where he scored a further 20 goals in 40 games in all competitions.

After playing the first half of the 2014-15 season for Bordeaux, where his overall record was one goal in 12 appearances, Sala was then loaned to another Ligue 1 club SM Caen for the second half where he scored five goals in 13 appearances.

But it was following a move to Nantes in the summer of 2015 for a reported one million euros where Sala really began to make a name for himself.

He spent four successful seasons at the club where he notched up 48 goals in 130 games – including 12 league goals in 19 appearances this season – to earn himself a move to the Premier League, becoming Cardiff City’s record signing.

His overall career record to date stands at 93 goals in 232 appearances. 

Premier League side Cardiff had been keeping close tabs on Sala throughout the current campaign and this season’s record of 12 goals in 19 Ligue 1 games prompted the Bluebirds spend big money on the Argentine.

In November, Sala was outscoring Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi in the goal charts but still remained uncapped by Argentina. 

With 10 goals for the season Sala was his country’s most prolific striker ahead of fellow countrymen Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Mauro Icardi. 

Manager Neil Warnock personally went to watch Sala in action on December 5 and saw the Premier League new boy score in the 30th minute. 

Cardiff were not the only Premier League club tracking Sala as Leicester, Burnley, West Ham and Everton all expressed an interest in the highly coveted marksman.

The Premier League strugglers signed Sala on a three-and-a-half-year contact on Saturday.

Before agreeing to move to Wales, Sala had played his entire professional career in France.

He started his career at Bordeaux where he progressed through the ranks after originally joining their youth team in 2010. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk