Nantes pays tribute to Emiliano Sala: The former Nantes footballer has been missing since Monday last week.
It has been more than a week since the aircraft carrying Emiliano Sala went missing.
The plane lost signal at around 8:30 PM on Monday last week while flying over the Channel Islands. The rescue and recovery operation was called off after three days of intensive efforts.
Earlier today, the Air Accidents Investigation Board (AAIB) announced that they have found two seat cushions which are likely from the same aircraft which carried Emiliano Sala and the pilot.
While the search for the aircraft continues, football clubs have been paying their tributes to the lost duo.
Nantes, who are playing their first game since the incident, paid an emotional tribute to Emiliano Sala during the game against St. Etienne.
Air Accidents Investigation Branch says French counterparts found part of a seat cushion on beach nr Surainville on the Cotentin Peninsula. A 2nd cushion was found in the same area & they have concluded its “likely” they are from missing aircraft that carried Emiliano Sala.
— Dan Roan (@danroan) January 30, 2019
Air Accidents Investigation Branch says French counterparts found part of a seat cushion on beach nr Surainville on the Cotentin Peninsula. A 2nd cushion was found in the same area & they have concluded its “likely” they are from missing aircraft that carried Emiliano Sala.
— Dan Roan (@danroan) January 30, 2019
The referee blew his whistle to stop the game in the 9th-minute mark as the stadium gave a standing ovation to Emiliano Sala, whose picture was displayed on the big screen.
The players of both the sides, as well as the managers joined in on the ovation.
Emiliano Sala joined Nantes in 2015 and had been one of the key performers for the side throughout the years.
This season, he scored 12 goals in 19 Ligue 1 appearances for the side before finally leaving the club to join Cardiff City in the Premier League.
Here’s the video:
Nantes match stopped in 9th min for round of applause for Emiliano Sala.
The Nantes manager in tears 🙏
pic.twitter.com/mgi2p5qOVn— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) January 30, 2019
Earlier today, the AAIB issued a statement where they confirmed that they have found debris of an aircraft.
In a statement, the AAIB said – “On the morning of Monday, January 28, we were advised by the Bureau d’Enquetes and d’Analyses, the French safety investigation authority, that part of a seat cushion had been found on a beach near Surtainville on the Cotentin Peninsula.
“A second cushion was found in the same area later that day.
Update on search for Emiliano Sala’s plane:
> Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch says 2 cushions likely to have come from plane found on beach in northern France
> Underwater search of seabed to start this weekend pic.twitter.com/x8TpKv8E8E— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) January 30, 2019
“From a preliminary examination, we have concluded that it is likely that the cushions are from the missing aircraft.”
The cushions have been found on a beach in North-Eastern France. The location was about 40 miles (64 kms) away from the point where Sala’s aircraft lost signal.
