Wreckage from the plane carrying the missing Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala has been found.
The Piper Malibu N264DB carrying 28-year-old Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, 59, disappeared over the English Channel on January 21 after leaving Nantes in France for Cardiff.
Two vessels, including one commissioned by the AAIB, using sonar had been taking part in a fresh search covering an area of around four square nautical miles.
Marine scientist David Mearns has been directing a privately-funded operation on behalf of the Sala family made possible after a campaign raised more than £260,000 to fund it.
The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) also sent a team aboard a vessel, the Geo Ocean III.
Mr Mearns said on Twitter: “Wreckage of the plane carrying Emiliano Sala and piloted by David Ibbotson was located early this morning by the FPV Morven.
“As agreed with the AAIB they moved the Geo Ocean III over the position we provided them to visually identify the plane by ROV.”
The families of Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson have been notified by Police. The AAIB will be making a statement tomorrow. Tonight our sole thoughts are with the families and friends of Emiliano and David. #EmilianoSalas #NoDejenDeBuscarAEmilianoSala
— David Mearns (@davidlmearns) February 3, 2019
Speaking to Sky News, he added: “This is about the best result we could have hoped for the families.
“But tonight they have heard devastating news and in respect of the families I won’t comment any further about what has happened.”
The plane had requested to descend then lost contact with Jersey air traffic control.
An official search operation was called off on January 24 after Guernsey’s harbour master Captain David Barker said the chances of survival following such a long period were “extremely remote”.
Two seat cushions, which are likely to have come from the plane, were found earlier this week.
The AAIB was advised by its French counterparts on Monday that part of a cushion was found on a beach near Surtainville on the Cotentin Peninsula.
A second cushion was found in the same area later that day.
Cardiff had signed the Argentinian striker for a club record £15 million and he was due to start training last month.
