Dorset Coroner finds Emiliano Sala was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes
The footballer suffered poisoning on a plane, which then crashed
Last updated 17th Mar 2022
An inquest being held in Dorset has found that footballer Emiliano Sala died as a result of a plane crash, having been overcome by toxic levels of carbon monoxide.
The plane the 28 year old Argentine striker was travelling in crashed into the English Channel in January 2019, as he was being flown from France to Cardiff.
He was travelling over after signing a £15 million deal to join Cardiff City from Nantes.
The pilot, David Ibbotson, also died in the incident.
The carbon monoxide that poisoned them both came from a faulty exhaust system in the aircraft.
Both Sala and Ibbotson would likely have been unconscious before the plane crashed.
Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue said Sala had been overcome by "severe poisoning" and would have been "deeply unconscious" prior to the single-engine plane crashing.
Dr Purdue said Sala was still alive at the point of impact and died from severe head and chest injuries.
Pilot and businessman David Henderson, 67, managed the aircraft on behalf of its owner and arranged flights, pilots and maintenance, despite not being the legally registered operator.
Henderson didn't have an Air Operator's Licence, but also kept no records or invoices for the business, or qualification details for the pilots who flew for him.
Mr Ibbotson had reported to Mr Henderson that he heard a loud bang on the outward flight from Cardiff to Nantes - but an engineer was never asked to investigate when the plane landed in France.
He had been banned from flying the Piper Malibu by its owner following two airspace infringements months earlier, but Mr Henderson allowed him to continue.
Jurors concluded that the flight was unlicensed, as the pilot wasn't permitted to fly at night or for commercial flights, but he'd likely felt pressure to accept the booking because of the high value client.
Last year David Henderson was jailed for 18 months after being convicted of endangering the safety of an aircraft for using Mr Ibbotson's services when he knew he did not have the relevant licences.
He admitted a further offence of trying to arrange a flight for a passenger without permission or authorisation.
In her final comments, Dorset Coroner Rachael Griffin, said she was concerned about illegal unlicensed flights and the powers of aviation bodies to investigate them.
SALA FAMILY REACTION
A statement has been released on behalf of Emiliano Sala's family.
Daniel Machover of Hickman & Rose solicitors, said:
“Emiliano’s family would like to thank the coroner and the jury for their hard work on this case. They welcome the detailed investigation and the jury’s diligent questioning and are grateful for the opportunity for members of the family to attend the hearing remotely from Argentina.
“This inquest has exposed the complex facts leading to Emiliano’s untimely death. It has shone a bright light on many of the missed opportunities in the worlds of football and aviation to prevent his tragic death.
“The family particularly note the jury’s findings that it is likely that both the pilot and Emiliano suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning and that Emiliano was deeply unconscious at the time of the accident, and that the poisoning was caused by a failure in the aircraft exhaust system.
“The family also welcome the coroner’s decision to communicate to the relevant authorities her concerns about the safety issues arising from this inquest in order to prevent similar future deaths. No family should have to go through grief from a similar avoidable accident.”