Underwater search to begin
Following the Sala family's flight earlier today, marine scientist David Mearns gave a search update to assembled media at Guernsey Airport.
He said: "We have sourced and hired a survey vessel equipped with state-of-the-art search equipment which will be used to conduct an underwater search for the plane’s wreckage in the area of the last radar contact.
"The survey vessel is currently being mobilised in Southampton and subject to weather conditions will be re-positioned to Guernsey on Thursday or Friday this week.
"Based on current weather predictions, we are hopeful that the underwater search will begin on the weekend, most probably Sunday.
"We would like to thank all the people, and all the companies that have offered their help, including Guernsey Police and the Harbour Master for their assistance during the family’s visit to the island."
David Ibbotson and Emiliano Sala
Mr Mearns was asked about the search transferring from a rescue operation to recovery.
"Those two things can actually happen in parallel, but we have been planning an underwater search as the next phase if the surface searchers turned up nothing.
"There are still boats on the water, the two fishing boats are moving about, their main job is fishing, but they are helping us.
"And people are still looking as most people on the water do when an accident like this occurs.
"But we are getting ready for the next phase of it, which will be the underwater search."
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