The death of Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala has brought many controversies in the last three and a half years, but it seems far from over. As BBC exclusively reveals in audio published on Wednesday, the pilot of Sala’s plane told friends the aircraft was “dodgy” before the flight that killed the 28-year-old striker.An homage to more than just a footballer – Ballon d’Or adds another accolade to the lotDavid Ibbotson is heard saying, “I’ll be wearing my life jacket” on the journey from France to Wales. He told a friend he heard a “bang” on a previous flight. The footballer had also expressed his fears about the aircraft in a voice note sent to his closest friends as the plane was taxiing on the runway at Nantes Atlantique Airport. The player told them, “man, I’m scared” and that the plane he was on “looks like it’s falling apart”. “I don’t know if someone will look for me because they won’t find me,” Sala told his friends about a potential crash.’I’m on a plane that looks like it’s falling apart… I’m scared’Exclusive CCTV footage shows the last time Emiliano Sala is seen alive boarding the doomed flighthttps://t.co/0oiJwj3Ihp pic.twitter.com/uL7l6BzsvV— BBC Wales News (@BBCWalesNews) September 21, 2022 Sala had just become then Premier League side Cardiff City’s £15m record signing from French club Nantes when the plane crashed into the English Channel, killing them both.If you slate Maguire on Twitter – you’re an idiot, says young Manchester United defenderHe was flown by Ibbotson – a part-time pilot who didn’t have a licence to carry paying passengers and whose body has never been found – back to western France to say his goodbyes and collect some belongings.He flew to Nantes on Saturday, 19 January, and planned to return on Monday – the day of the crash.Woe for Bayern and Germany: Neuer and Goretzka test positive!Ibbotson, 59, said he also realised the Piper Malibu’s left brake pedal wasn’t working after landing at Nantes Atlantique Airport. “This aircraft has got to go back in the hangar,” he told his friend.##NAJAVA_MECA_6663625##Ahead of the flight back to Cardiff, Ibbotson added: “Normally, I’d have my life jacket between my seats, but tomorrow I’ll be wearing my life jacket.”The late player did not know Ibbotson wasn’t qualified to fly him on that fateful night.
