CONFIRMED: Sala Onboard Missing Flight

By Max Wise

French Aviation Authorities have confirmed that the newly-signed Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala was on board the flight that has gone missing off Alderney on the Channel Islands.

Authority says the Piper PA 46 Malibu aircraft operates in French but is not registered in the European country.

"We can confirm Emiliano Sala was on board," says the authority in a statement.

"This morning, the French research started with one French national navy ship and one aircraft. The investigation will determine which authority will take the lead on the research."

The 28-year-old Argentine forward completed his move to English side Cardiff City last week and was heading back to Wales join up with his new teammates having returned to France to bid farewell to his former colleagues at Nantes.

Guernsey Police said on Monday: "Guernsey Coastguard received an alert at 20:23 from Jersey ATC, that a light aircraft had gone off their radar approximately 15 miles north of Guernsey, initiating a major search and rescue operation involving both St Peter Port and Alderney lifeboats. Air Search 1 and 2 HM Coastguard helicopters are also involved in the search."

"The PA 46 Malibu, a single turbine engine aircraft was en route from Nantes in France, to Cardiff in Wales, with two people on board when it was lost off the radar as Jersey ATC was attempting to make contact."