By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal
LONDON (AA) – Search and rescue efforts resumed on Wednesday to find a light airplane carrying three people including a newly signed English Premier League footballer, according to local media reports.
The Argentinian footballer, Emilio Sala, 28, was on his way to join his new club, Cardiff City FC, after he signed a contract of £15 million ($19.5 million). The aircraft he was in went off the radar Monday night.
Sala has been reported to have sent a message via voicemail to his father, saying he was frightened the plane was about to break up.
According to media reports in Argentina, he said: “I’m here on a plane that looks like it’s about to fall apart, and I’m going to Cardiff. ”
“If in an hour and a half you have no news from me, I don’t know if they are going to send someone to look for me because they cannot find me, but you know … Dad, how scared am I!
<p>A cushion and bent piece of metal were among the objects recovered, John Fitzgerald, chief officer of the Channel Island Air Search told Sky News.</p> <p>"At this stage I think it's very unlikely to have an aircraft that's in one piece," he said, adding that he believed the aircraft broke up after crashing in the Channel.</p> <p>"When a plane goes on the water you only have a few minutes before it does sink," said Fitzgerald, adding:
“They're not designed to sit on the sea and once you open the doors you usually have two or three minutes before it goes underwater, especially with a lighter aircraft. ”
The search and rescue efforts by the Channel Islands, U.K. and France continue.
