Yorkshire man pleads not guilty to aircraft charges over plane accident which killed footballer Emiliano Sala

A man from East Yorkshire has entered not guilty pleas to charges relating to the plane crash death of Emiliano Sala.
By Susie Beever
Published 26th Oct 2020, 15:56 BST
Updated 26th Oct 2020, 16:16 BST
Tributes to Emiliano Sala following his death in January 2019Tributes to Emiliano Sala following his death in January 2019
Tributes to Emiliano Sala following his death in January 2019

David Henderson, 66, from Hotham, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court today (Monday) charged with endangering the safety of an aircraft and attempting to discharge a passenger without valid permission or authorisation.

The charges under the Air Navigation Order, brought forward by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), relate to the accident in January 2019 in which a plane taking footballer Emiliano Sala over to the UK in a transfer to Cardiff City crashed over the English Channel.

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The body of the 28-year-old Argentinian, who was involved in a multimillion pound transfer from FC Nantes in France to Cardiff City FC, was recovered the following month, but the body of Mr Ibbotson, 59, from Crowle, Lincolnshire, has not been found.

Tributes to Emiliano Sala following his death in January 2019Tributes to Emiliano Sala following his death in January 2019
Tributes to Emiliano Sala following his death in January 2019

Henderson appeared in the dock via video link wearing a blue suit, entering not guilty pleas to both charges.

The court heard the details of the first allegation related to Mr Ibbotson, who was contracted to fly the aircraft, not having a commercial pilot’s licence at the time of the flight, with it having expired in November 2018.

It also related to the bad weather which was forecast for the fatal return journey from Nantes to Cardiff, with the pilot not being “competent to fly in such weather”.

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Stephen Spence, defending, told the court he would raise the issue of whether Cardiff would be an “appropriate venue” for a fair trial, considering Sala’s link with the Welsh capital’s football club.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told Henderson his trial date had been fixed for October 18, 2021.

He was released on unconditional bail until the trial.

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