Emiliano Sala Plane Crash
How the greed of a British man, caused Emiliano Sala his death
About Emiliano Sala
I believe most of the football fans know the history of Emiliano Sala, who died on January 21, 2019, in a single-engine plane crash, aged 28 years. He was an Argentine who used to play for a French Club, Nantes.
Emiliano was very sensitive, he felt the need to play well for his club, Nantes, which made him aggressive on the pitch, although he led a quiet life off-pitch. Like all young footballers, they too have their role models. Emiliano’s role model is the legendary Gabriel Bastitula, an equally Argentine retired footballer.
His coach, Vahid Halilhodzic, had a big plan to relaunch Emiliano, and he was instrumental to Emiliano being transferred to Cardiff City Club. Emiliano had earlier refused transfer to Galatasaray. Vahid believed Emiliano would do well in Cardiff City. It is like it is the dream of most non-English footballers to play for British clubs. Emiliano was not different.
He personally felt he had not made his mark in Nantes. He felt unappreciated in Nantes and was later transferred to Cardiff City for £15m. Emiliano himself had no say in the transfer, and this angered him, which he showed by his WhatsApp message to one of his friends in Nantes.
He, however, had close acquaintances, one of them is Abdoulaye Toure. To Abdoulaye, he wondered why he has no say in his transfer. He complained that he wanted to go to a club that will value him, for which he was prepared to work his ass off, as he was turning 29. The wish never materialised.
When he got to Cardiff City, he had not made many friends with his new team, so he felt lonely and missed his ‘paddies’ at Nantes. He informed his manager at Cardiff, he wanted to go and say the final goodbye to his team at Nantes. And indeed, unfortunately, it was a final bye-bye. Cardiff manager, Neil Warnock still regret to this day for allowing it.
The flights:
- 5 December 2018 — Flight from Stapleford in Essex to Nantes — carrying Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock, assistant manager Kevin Blackwell, Willie McKay and Mark McKay to see Emiliano Sala play against Marseilles
- 6 December — party returns from Nantes to Cardiff. Both flights made on G-KARE, operated by Surrey-based Flexifly Aircraft Hire Ltd
- 8 January 2019 — Flight from Cardiff to Nantes — carrying Neil Warnock, Cardiff City player liaison Callum Davies, Willie and Mark McKay to meet Sala and his agent. They’re flown back to Cardiff the same day. On N531EA, owned by Guernsey-based Channel Jets
- 14 January — Sala’s agent, Meissa N’Diaye, flown from Paris to Nantes. N’Diaye and Sala are flown from Nantes to Cardiff to have a look around the Cardiff City Stadium, returning to Nantes the same day. Mr N’Diaye is then flown back to Paris. All flights made on N843TE — owned by Channel Jets
- 18 January — Sala flies from Nantes to Cardiff for a medical and to sign his contract with Cardiff City. Via Channel Jets in N531EA. Sala’s agent Mr N’Diaye — who has travelled to Cardiff for the signing via a commercial flight — flown back to Paris by Lord George Porchester in his own aircraft, N14EF
- 19 January — Sala was flown back to Nantes by David Ibbotson on N264DB to bid farewell to his Nantes team-mates and make personal arrangements. Mr Ibbotson books into a hotel to await the return leg of the journey — on 21 January — to deliver Sala back to Cardiff for his first training session
- 21 January — The flight leaves Nantes at 19:15 and disappears from radar around an hour into the journey.
Catalogues Of Errors Killed Emiliano Sala
The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) heard how it was common to use unlicensed charter flights. This was an accident waiting to happen. The plane that carried Sala was not licensed, and worse is that the pilot was also not qualified to fly because he did not complete his training in aviation school.
These single-engine charter flights are commonly being used by footballers and celebrities who want anonymity in their travel, but now with a sad end.
Emiliano’s relatives crowd-funded a search rescue to retrieve his body, and to know what happened. He was found still strapped to the seat, at the sea bed. The pilot, Mr Ibboston, believed to have ejected, as the body was not found up till now.
Emiliano’s dad, Horacio Sala died three months after the crash that killed his son, of a broken heart. He was aged 58 years. He suffered a heart attack in his home in Progreso, Argentina Santa Fe Province.
The Post-Morten result indicated he had a dangerous level of carbon monoxide in his lungs, so he would have been unconscious before the crash. This further signifies the unworthiness of the aircraft.
Two CCTV workers were jailed when they posted what appears to be Emiliano’s post-Morten body was found on social media. The photo was taken from the screen of mortuary CCTV. They were jailed for blatant breach of confidentiality and human decency and causing further distress to Emiliano’s family.
David Henderson, 66, an agent, who arranged Emiliano’s flight appeared in court on October 15, 2020, charged with his murder, under Air Navigation Order. He pleaded not guilty, and the case was adjourned.
Think Again Before You Allow Greed And Carelessness To Determine Your Action.
The air charter agent, Mr Henderson, caused untold grief to both the families of Emiliano Sala and Mr Ibboston. Even a double tragedy for the Sala’s family, who lost Emiliano and his dad. All because Mr Henderston wants to make some quick buck.
He would make more money by employing a person, not qualified to fly, and even a cheaper fee for an unlicensed plane. So how much money do we want to disregard good old common sense? I wonder.
So, think of your actions, and its implication on others. Our actions could have far-reaching implications than we could ever imagine. Never allow money to be the determinant in any decision of life.
On the final analysis, we each must remember that we are the light of the world. You and me that is, without our light, others will stumble. Somebody will fall. unless we each do our part. And surprisingly, help is there for us, if we want to do the right thing.
