Investigators will inspect whether the pilot who disappeared with Cardiff City’s Emiliano Sala had the correct licence.
Pilot, David Ibbotson, was an experienced flyer who held a private pilot’s licence and passed a medical exam as recently as November according to Federal Aviation Administration records.
The aircraft was registered in the US so fell under the States’ regulations.
US law says private pilots cannot make a profit by carrying passengers.
A spokesman for the Air Accident Investigation Branch said it has opened a probe and confirmed they will investigate all aspects of the flight including licensing.
The search for the missing plane was formally called off on Thursday after rescuers said chances of finding the missing pair alive are “remote.”
Guernsey’s Harbour Master, David Barker said it was a difficult decision but he was “absolutely confident” no more could be done.
Emiliano Sala’s sister Romina, who arrived in Cardiff on Thursday, told a press conference she feels “they are alive.. that they are well” and pleaded for the search to continue.
Emiliano is a great fighter – I know he hasn’t given up and he is waiting for us.
We just want that the search continues.
I know in my heart Emiliano is still alive somewhere in the Channel Islands.
– ROMINA SALA
Sala’s former club FC Nantes backed Ms Sala’s calls for the search to resume saying the hunt for the plane “can not stop.”
