Pilot Arrested, Charged With Tragic Striker Emiliano Sala Manslaughter
20th June 2019
David Henderson assisting Dorset Police with enquiries and has been released from custody under investigation following the death of the 28 year-old in an aircrash
- Sala, 28, died when a plane carrying him and pilot David Ibbotson came down in the Channel on January 21, just days after he had joined Cardiff City from Nantes
- Sala had been Cardiff's record signing after a fee of £15 million ($19 million) was agreed with Nantes during the January transfer window
- In the aftermath of the tragedy, Cardiff were relegated from the Premier League after just one season back in the top flight
LONDON, England- A man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over the death of Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala was on Thursday named by the Times newspaper as pilot David Henderson.
Sala, 28, died when a plane carrying him and pilot David Ibbotson came down in the Channel on January 21, just days after he had joined Cardiff City from Nantes.
"As a result of our enquiries we have today, Wednesday 19 June 2019, arrested a 64-year-old man from the North Yorkshire area on suspicion of manslaughter by an unlawful act," Detective Inspector Simon Huxter, of Dorset Police said in a statement.
DO NOT MISS: Horacio, Father Of Late Cardiff Striker Emiliano Sala, Dies From Heart Attack
"He is assisting with our enquiries and has been released from custody under investigation."
The Times newspaper named the arrested man as pilot Henderson, who worked regularly for Willie McKay, a football agent linked with Sala's transfer.
The agent has previously said he asked Henderson to fly the plane, but that he was unable to do so.
Sala had been Cardiff's record signing after a fee of £15 million ($19 million) was agreed with Nantes during the January transfer window.
DO NOT MISS: Posta Rangers Survive Nairobi Stima Power Surge To Retain SPL Status
After travelling to Cardiff to complete the deal, Sala returned to northern France to collect belongings and bid farewell to his teammates.
It was on his return to the Welsh capital to take part in his first training session that the tragedy occurred.
Initial search operations for the player and pilot were suspended in the days after the plane went missing.
Legal wrangle
However, a crowdfunding effort supported by thousands of donations, including from football stars such as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, helped launch a private search.
DO NOT MISS: Nairobi Women Rep Passaris To Buy 100 VIP Tickets For Sharks Vs Everton
That specialised search saw Sala's body recovered from the wreckage in February but Ibbotson's body has not been found.
Two months after Sala's body was discovered, his father Horacio Sala died of a heart attack in Argentina.
Moving tributes were paid to Sala from across the football world with Nantes retiring the number nine jersey he wore for the Ligue 1 side.
However, the two clubs have been involved in a legal wrangle over the transfer fee.
Nantes reported Cardiff to FIFA after the first instalment of the fee, believed to be £5 million, was not paid on time.
DO NOT MISS: Fed Up Man United Fans Sign Petition To Send Young, Jones, Smalling Out
Cardiff previously stated they were "shocked" at reports that Ibbotson did not have a licence to fly at night.
"The club remains deeply concerned that the pilot, and those who arranged the flight, seemingly completely disregarded the rules of flying and put Mr Sala's life in such danger," Cardiff said in a statement in March.
"We believe those who are responsible should be held fully accountable for their actions."
In the aftermath of the tragedy, Cardiff were relegated from the Premier League after just one season back in the top flight.
DO NOT MISS: Nigeria Coach Rohr Wary Of AFCON Rivals Despite Dismal Debutant Record