Plane carrying Emiliano Sala found

The plane carrying Emiliano Sala has been found and his family informed, according to David Mearns who was leading the search for the missing aeroplane. The Argentinean footballer and the pilot of the plane David Ibbotsen are presumed to have lost their lives when the Piper Malibu aircraft disappeared on 22 January.

"Incredibly tragic and sad"

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Mearns said: "Our job is done. This is an active investigation now in the hands of the AAIB [the UK's Air Accident Investigation Branch], and they will be taking over as agreed. We've had a long trip back and all I could think about was the families. This is what they wanted us to do, we've achieved it and that's the best we could have hoped for - the best outcome. An incredibly tragic and sad, and a devastating moment, but at least some of their questions will be answered because of what we will be able to do today."

The wreckage was discovered on the seabed of the English Channel by the ship the FPV Morven. The AAIB will be making a statement on Monday.

The plane carrying the Argentinean football was flying from Nantes to Cardiff when it disappeared. Two cushions from the plane were found last week, prompting the search mission that took place this weekend.

Emiliano Sala had just signed for Cardiff City from Nantes for 15 million pounds and was travelling to his new club when the plane he was on disappeared.