Divers find no trace of David Ibbotson as search of Emiliano Sala plane wreckage ends
Wednesday 27th February 2019
The diving team have returned to shore
David Ibbotson has still not been found
The diving team have returned to shore
Divers searching for the body of missing pilot David Ibbotson have failed to find any trace of him.
Two specially trained divers scoured the wreckage of the Piper Malibu aircraft on the seabed of the English Channel on Wednesday.
The crash site, just 30 metres from the plane's last known radar position, had previously not been searched by humans.
Footballer Emiliano Sala's body was recovered from the wreckage earlier this month after being spotted by remotely operated underwater vehicles mounted with cameras.
David Mearns, the shipwreck hunter who located the wreckage at the start of the month, co-ordinated the new search for Mr Ibbotosn after his family raised nearly £250,000 through a GoFundMe page.
On Wednesday afternoon, Mr Mearns said: "Returning to Guernsey having completed this morning a thorough search of the Piper Malibu wreckage.
"Two highly experienced technical divers spent 20 minutes searching and filming the plane, but sadly there was absolutely no sign of the pilot David Ibbotson."
Early on Wednesday, a specialist diving vessel named 'Skin Deep' arrived at the crash site to begin the search. Helicopters have also been deployed over the past week to search secluded coastal areas for any sign of Mr Ibbotson.
An Air Accident Investigation Branch interim report into the tragedy was published on Monday. You can read the key findings from that here and see the new images of the wreckage released in the gallery below.
Investigators found the plane extensively damaged, in three parts, held together only by electrical and flying control cables.
The engine had disconnected from the cockpit area, and the rear section of the fuselage had broken away.
Mr Ibbotson's family had spoken about their hopes of "bringing him home" during an emotional TV interview.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain, wife Nora said: "We know that he is dead. We do know that, but we just want him home.
"He has been a brilliant husband, he has supported us all. He was our supporter. He was our rock
"We can't leave him out there on his own. We are trying to do everything we can. This is why we have done the appeal for some help to guide us."
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