Air and sea search launched after light aircraft with two on board goes missing over Channel Islands

Fears for Cardiff City’s new £15million signing Emiliano Sala, 28, after French police confirm he WAS on plane that went missing over the Channel Islands

  • Premier League footballer Emiliano Sala was on flight missing off Alderney
  • Cardiff City football club reported ‘genuine concerns’ for the Argentine striker
  • The 28-year-old forward had left Nantes to travel to Cardiff yesterday evening
  • French police and Nantes Football Club confirmed Sala was on the Piper Malibu 
  • Cardiff City announced signing of Sala from Nantes in record £15m on Saturday
  • The plane is believed to have lost contact near Casquets lighthouse at 8.30pm  

Premier League footballer Emiliano Sala was on board a light aircraft which has gone missing over the English Channel.

Cardiff City Football Club this morning reported ‘genuine concerns’ for the Argentine striker, who left Nantes in France heading to Cardiff in Wales yesterday evening.

French police and Nantes Football Club have now confirmed that Sala was one of the two people on board the Piper Malibu which lost contact near the Casquets lighthouse. 

Cardiff City announced the signing of the Argentinian striker from Nantes in a club record fee of £15million on Saturday. 

An air and sea search has been launched in the Channel Islands for the light aircraft which lost contact at 8.30pm yesterday evening. 

Cardiff City Football Club has this morning reported ‘genuine concerns’ for Emiliano Sala

Emiliano Sala posted this photograph on Instagram on Saturday, after he signed a record £15million contract with the club 

Emiliano Sala posted this photograph on Instagram on Saturday, after he signed a record £15million contract with the club 

Cardiff City announced the signing of the Argentinian striker from Nantes in a club record fee of £15million on Saturday

Cardiff City announced the signing of the Argentinian striker from Nantes in a club record fee of £15million on Saturday

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

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

A Piper Malibu light aircraft. A plane of this model is believed to have lost contact at 8.30pm 

A Piper Malibu light aircraft. A plane of this model is believed to have lost contact at 8.30pm 

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

Rescue teams were scrambled to waters north of Alderney after the light aircraft vanished on Monday evening, Guernsey Police said.

‘A search and rescue operation is currently underway off the north of Alderney after a light aircraft disappeared from radar several hours ago,’ the force said.

‘Two helicopters alongside the Guernsey and Alderney lifeboats are searching for it.’ 

The Alderney lifeboat said it launched at 8.50pm on Monday night.

A coastguard rescue helicopter and crews from Alderney and Guernsey RNLI have joined the search in the area around the lighthouse.

A spokesman for Jersey Coastguard told MailOnline the team from Guernsey was conducting the S&R mission, with assistance from the team in Jersey. 

Emilano Sala signed for Cardiff City last week

Emilano Sala signed for Cardiff City last week

Sala reportedly left Nantes to travel to Cardiff last night and reports suggest it is possible he may have been one of the two people on board the Piper Malibu

Sala reportedly left Nantes to travel to Cardiff last night and reports suggest it is possible he may have been one of the two people on board the Piper Malibu

The Casquets from the air, showing the lighthouse on the centre island

The Casquets from the air, showing the lighthouse on the centre island

The first lighthouse was built off the treacherous Casquets rocks, 13km north-west of Alderney, in 1724.

Three towers lit by coal fires were created to form a distinctive shape which would not be confused by seamen for lighthouses in nearby France. 

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