Police consider calling off search for Sala

Police searching for the missing footballer Emiliano Sala are contemplating calling off the investigation later on Wednesday. Having failed to find any signs of the player, pilot or the aircraft on which the pair were travelling, the authorities may decide to end the search. In a lunch time update, Guernesey Police said in a statement: "“A decision whether to continue will be taken later today.”

It had been reported that rescuers had been basing the operation on the premise that Sala made it into a life raft at some point after the plane he had been travelling in disappeared. The pilot of the plane was confirmed to have been a Mr Dave Ibbotson; a member of the British Parachute Association and an experienced flyer. 

Meanwhile, French outlet 'LEquipe 'reported that the head of the operation confirmed a 'slim chance of survival' had the pilot and Sala been on the plane when it landed on water. 

At present, the rescue team are working on four potential outcomes, which are as follows: 

• Sala and the pilot have landed elsewhere but not made contact
• The aircraft on water,and were picked up by a passing ship but have not yet made contact
• The aircraft landed on water and they made it into the life raft that was on board
• The aircraft disintegrated upon contact with water, leaving them in the sea.

There has been no further decision made by the authorities, with the investigation still on going.