The businessman who organized the crashed 2019 flight into the Channel that killed Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala was jailed on Friday for 18 months for breaching safety regulations.
David Henderson, 67, was convicted by a jury in Cardiff last month of endangering the safety of an aircraft over the death of the 28-year-old striker.
He shall also undergo imprisonment of three months for attempting to discharge a passenger without valid permission or authorization.
Henderson had already admitted the allegation, which usually relates to a business operator failing to obtain an appropriate license to lease an aircraft commercially.
A single-engine Piper Malibu plane carrying Sala from France to join Cardiff City crashed into the sea off the Channel Islands of Guernsey on January 21, 2019, killing it and pilot David Ibbotson, 59, on board.
Ibbotson, who regularly flew to Henderson, did not have a commercial pilot’s license or night-flying qualifications and was rated for flying the aircraft.
Judge David Foxton said Henderson conducted the flight without the correct certificates and necessary safety systems to comply with UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements.
“The lack of certificates was not just a piece of paper. Air safety rules and systems are designed to make them effective and are written in blood,” Foxton said.
“You knew your aircraft operations were illegal and took steps to make sure the operation was off the radar.
“This was illustrated by your message to Mr Ibbotson, which read: ‘We both have the opportunity to make money from the business model, but not if we annoy customers or attract CAA attention’.”
Security Risk
Sala signed for Cardiff, who were then in the Premier League, for a club-record £15 million (18 million euros, $20 million) from French Ligue 1 side Nantes.
He was one of the top scorers in the French league before his death, scoring 12 goals in 19 games in the 2018/19 season.
His impressive form prompted Cardiff manager Neil Warnock to sign him to assist in the Bluebirds’ ultimately unsuccessful fight in the 2019 January transfer window.
“Our condolences go out to the families and friends affected by this tragic accident,” said CAA Safety Director Rob Bishton.
“Illegal commercial flights represent a significant security risk and this is reflected in the court’s decision today.
“The aviation system depends on the integrity of everyone involved. Anyone operating a commercial flight must always have the necessary licenses and approvals.”
A British air crash investigation report published in March last year concluded that Ibbotson was not licensed to fly the aircraft or fly at night.
It was assessed that he lost control and flew too fast trying to avoid bad weather, and both he and Sala were affected by carbon monoxide poisoning before the accident.
Sala’s body was recovered from the sea floor in February 2019 but Ibbotson’s body was never found.
Henderson said in a statement after the case through his lawyers that he would consider whether to appeal the conviction and sentence.
“Now that the case has ended in Crown Court, Mr Henderson would like to formally pay his respects to the families of Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson,” it added.
“It is important to point out that the Civil Aviation Authority has always acknowledged that the manner in which the flight was arranged and operated did not result in the aircraft crashing.”
read all breaking news, breaking news And coronavirus news Here. follow us on Facebook, Twitter And Wire,
,