Yorkshire man prosecuted over alleged involvement in plane crash which killed footballer Emiliano Sala

Tributes for Emiliano Sala following his death in January 2019

David Henderson from the East Riding of Yorkshire has appeared in court charged with two offences under the Air Navigation Order 2016.

The 66-year-old appeared at Cardiff Magistrates Court on September 28 charged with acting in a “reckless/negligent” manner, and being involved in the commercial use of the plane involved in the crash.

The accusations relate to the fatal accident in January 2019, in which the 28-year-old Argentinian player was travelling across the English Channel following a multimillion-pound transfer from FC Nantes in France to Cardiff City.

CAA director Richard Stephenson said: “The UK Civil Aviation Authority has commenced a prosecution of David Henderson for offences associated with the fatal light aircraft accident over the English Channel in January 2019.

“It will be inappropriate for the CAA to say anything further until the case is concluded.”

Mr Sala's body was recovered a month after the crash, but the body of the pilot, David Ibbotson, 59, from Crowle, Lincolnshire, has not been found.

The prosecution meanwhile could further delay the inquest into Sala’s death.

Daniel Machover of law firm Hickman and Rose – which is representing the footballer’s mother, Mercedes Taffarel, said: “Mercedes Taffarel welcomes the prosecution of David Henderson, but is disappointed that it has today resulted in what may be a further significant delay to the inquest into Emiliano’s death.

“This coming January will mark two years since the plane Emiliano was travelling in crashed into the English Channel.

“His mother remains desperate to know the full truth about how this could have been allowed to happen, and urges the CAA to proceed with its criminal prosecution as swiftly as possible, so an inquest can be held to establish this, and that similar deaths are prevented.”

A report into the crash by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch found that neither Mr Ibbotson nor the plane were licensed for the flight to operate commercially, but evidence showed he was to be paid a fee.

Unlicensed charter flight operations – known as grey charters – generally incur lower operating costs.

Former football agent Willie McKay has said he paid for the fatal flight, but did not choose the pilot or the plane.

He has explained he was helping his son Mark, who was acting for Nantes, to complete the transfer.

Henderson was bailed to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on October 26.

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