Soccer star Emiliano Sala's plane could have been brought down by ice on the wings, experts claim
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}In this his picture taken on Jan. 14, 2018, Argentine soccer player, Emiliano Sala, of the FC Nantes club, western France, gives a thumbs up during a soccer match against PSG in Nantes, France. (AP)
The plane carrying Argentinian soccer star Emiliano Sala could have been brought down by a build-up of deadly ice on the wings, aviation experts claim.
On Monday night, the single-engine Piper PA-46 plane vanished over Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
One aviation expert said: "There are reports that the footballer was texting saying the aircraft is shaking and breaking up are classic signs of icing on the wings".
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“The pilot is most likely wrestling with a stall at 2,300ft.
“It is likely, though, that the aircraft hit the water in one piece otherwise debris would have quickly been found.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}SOCCER STAR EMILIANO SALA ABOARD MISSING PLANE THAT VANISHED OFF ENGLISH CHANNEL, OFFICIALS SAY
The claim comes as the British pilot of a plane carrying the new Cardiff signing admitted he was “a bit rusty” at the controls before it vanished.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}David Ibbotson, 60, told friends his fears after arriving in France on Saturday and even joked about the state of his landing.
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Sala, 28, is thought to have flown back to Nantes to say goodbye to his ex-teammates after signing for Premier League side Cardiff in a club record $19 million deal.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This story originally appeared in The Sun. For more from The Sun, click here.