A Cardiff court declared this Thursday 28, almost two years after the tragic death of Argentine former footballer Emiliano Sala, the negligence guilt of pilot David Henderson, organizer of the trip that would transfer the former player from France to Wales after signing with a Premier League club. In that flight, the plane crashed at some point in the English Channel, an accident that resulted in the death of the two crew members.
Henderson, who had already pleaded guilty to a charge of organizing the trip without the necessary permits, was found responsible for "endangering the safety of the aircraft" by a majority of ten votes in favor and two against. According to Le Parisien, the imposed sentence is five years in prison, which the sentenced has the possibility to appeal until November 12.
Emiliano Sala spent his entire professional career in France. Photo: AFP
Among the statements collected by the jury, after more than seven hours of debate, the confession of the businessman was obtained, who indicated having spoken with several people, including the owner of the plane, to keep silent and not "uncover a can full of worms" after learning of the crash, as he feared that his businesses would be investigated as a result of the incident.
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Martin Goudie, the lawyer leading the prosecution, stated in his speech that Henderson was "negligent" in his handling of the flight and "put his business interests above the safety of the passengers by hiring pilots without the necessary qualifications to fly or not competent to complete certain flights."
Several colleagues of Sala around the world financed part of the search for his body. Photo: AFP
Who was Emiliano Sala?
Emiliano Sala was an Argentine former player who played as a forward. Since his professional debut in 2011, he spent his entire career in French clubs, where he arrived in the 2015-16 season at Nantes, the team in which he would consolidate himself and which negotiated his sale to Cardiff City for 17 million euros, which was frustrated due to his death.
How did Emiliano Sala die?
According to multiple reports released after the accident, the plane carrying Sala and pilot David Ibbotson disappeared from radar on January 21, 2019 after requesting to descend to 5,000 feet (1,500 meters). Later, it was known that Ibbotson, whose body was never found, did not have a license for commercial flights and there were a number of irregularities weighing on him. The former player was 28 years old at the time of his death.
With information from EFE