Private search for Emiliano Sala's pilot's body gets go ahead as daughters raise £250k online
David Ibbotson's body has not yet been found after the doomed plane crashed over the Channel last month.
Cardiff City striker Sala's body was recovered on February 6 and an inquest showed he died from "head and truck" injuries.
Mr Ibbotson's daughter Danielle set up a Go Fund Me page in a bid to secure £300,000 to hunt for her missing dad.
She revealed today the £249,000 raised by well-wishers was enough to launch the private search.
'THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS'
Danielle wrote: "Thank you again each and everyone for all your support. We are now able to ensure our searches take place.
“Once all the searches have taken place and all family members have been informed, I will ensure a breakdown of who was involved and what we was able to do. Also what the outcome is. We are all hoping that the outcome is we find my Dad and are able as a family to lay him to rest near to his family.
"Again thank you all so much for your kindness and giving us as a family the space as we can only update once we are able. To ensure we are following the regulations involved for safety. Once I know I will ensure everyone is updated fully with all the details. Danielle.”
Among those who donated to the search were France star Kylian Mbappe, who made an incredible donation of £27,000, and Match of the Day host Gary Linker who pledged £1,000.
NEW WRECKAGE PICTURES
It comes after new pictures of the wreckage were released as the Air Accidents Investigation Branch publishes its interim report into the crash.
The report reveals the US-registered plane did not have approval to be flown commercially and had not sought permission to do so.
Mr Ibbotson, from Crowle, Lincolsnhire, is also confirmed to have held a private pilot's licence – but not a commercial one.
The report states: "[The plane] was registered in the USA and could not be used for commercial operations without permission from the FAA and CAA.
"At the time of writing there was no evidence that such permission had been sought or granted.
"To fly an aircraft registered in the USA between EASA Member States, a pilot must operate using the privileges of an FAA licence."
FRESH INFORMATION ON PILOT
Investigators also revealed the plane plunged at a rate of around 7,000ft-a-minute after twice requesting permission to descend in order to gain better visibility in heavy fog.
In its final seconds, the report says radar signals suggest the plane climbed rapidly from around 1,600ft to about 2,300ft.
The plane lost contact with air traffic control just seconds later.
Mr Ibbotson's private licence meant he could only fly passengers in the European Union on a 'cost sharing' basis, and not for any commercial profit.
The 'cost sharing' arrangement allows for individuals to split the expenses of a private flight, but Mr Ibbotson would have had to have paid at least half of the costs.
The Sun previously revealed the pilot was battling £18,000 of debts at the time of the crash.
PILOT STATED HE WAS 'RUSTY' WITH PLANE CONTROLS
The report states Mr Ibbotson arrived in Nantes two days before the flight on January 19.
Mr Ibbotson, 59, had written he was 'a bit rusty with the ILS (Instrument Landing System)' on Facebook after arriving at the airport.
He later wrote: "Was not to (sic) bad when I got there but I'm a bit rusty with the ils, in France now."
A friend replied: "Rusty with the ILS?! I can't believe that!"
Mr Ibbotson added: "You wanna bet, a little on the high side hehe, better than on the low side."
Sala arrived at the airport at 6.36pm on the night of January 21 and the flight took off exactly half an hour later.
The plane made last contact with air traffic control over the Channel Islands at 8.16pm.
The wreckage of the plane was found on the sea bed – along with Sala's body – just 30 metres from where the last contact was made.
Argentinian footballer Sala had just signed for Cardiff City from French club Nantes for £15 million when the plane crashed into the Channel on January 21.
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