Search for Emiliano Sala pilot David Ibbotson to resume as family nears £250k fundraising target and bring in deep sea divers

February 19, 2019

Well-wishers donated in their droves after David Ibbotson's family asked for help to give the 59-year-old the "send-off he deserves".

The 59-year-old disappeared as he flew footballer Sala over the Channel from Nantes to his new club Cardiff FC in late January.

While Sala's body was recovered from the plane wreck discovered near Alderney, Mr Ibbotson's location remains unknown.

This fresh search will be coordinated by David Mearns, who helped Sala's family locate the missing Piper Malibu he and Mr Ibbotson had been travelling in.

Helicopter searches of the area will also be conducted "a lot sooner" than the dive, it was said.

Mr Ibbotson's daughter Danielle, updated supporters on the GoFundMe page titled 'Please Help Bring Him Home'.

She said: "Thank you all so much for your support.

"We are looking to have the Deep Divers start hopefully beginning of next week. We are just waiting on confirmation of dates to update you all.

"Also we are organising the helicopter searches of the coastal areas just will be starting a lot sooner than the Deep Dive.

"You have all been so amazing and thank you for all your kind messages and donations."

The crowdfunder was given a significant boost by footballers including Kalibou Koulibali, İlkay Gündoğan and Kylian Mbappé, who donated £27,000 alone.

In a later update at Tuesday lunchtime, Danielle said they have spoken to the the director of the Civil Aviation Authority in Guernsey to discuss a planned route.

"We are waiting on the permissions to be able to perform the flight," she wrote, adding: "I also am wanting the searches to start as soon as possible but we are doing our best and we are just following the correct processes to get everything underway correctly and also safety for the amazing Pilots and divers who will be helping us."