LONDON, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- A final report into the air crash that killed Argentinian football player Emiliano Sala is to be published in March, Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said on Tuesday on the first anniversary of the tragedy.
Sala was aboard the Piper PA-46 Malibu light aircraft on a journey between Nantes in France and the Welsh capital Cardiff when it went down in the English Channel.
The body of Sala was later recovered from the wreckage 67 meters below the surface, while the remains of pilot David Ibbotson have never been found.
28-year-old Sala was on his way to join Cardiff City, who he had signed for two days earlier for a transfer fee of 15 million pounds (196 million US dollars), a record amount for the Welsh club which plays in the English league system.
"Today marks the first anniversary of the accident involving Piper PA-46-310P Malibu, N264DB, near Guernsey, and our thoughts are with the families and friends of Mr Ibbotson and Mr Sala at this time," said Crispin Orr, AAIB chief inspector of air accidents.
"The AAIB has conducted a thorough investigation looking at a number of elements including operational, technical, organizational and human factors that may have caused or contributed to this accident. We have worked closely with many specialist organisations including the aircraft and engine manufacturers and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the USA."
Orr added that the AAIB has already published two special bulletins about the accident; one containing preliminary factual information, and the second featuring medical information about the dangers of exposure to carbon monoxide.
"Our investigation is now at an advanced stage and we intend to publish our final report by the end of March 2020," said Orr.
