Operator ‘nothing to add’ on Sala flight

A BUSINESSMAN jailed for 18 months over the plane crash that killed footballer Emiliano Sala has “no further evidence” to give at the inquest into the sportsman’s death.

David Henderson, 67, was jailed earlier this month after being convicted of endangering the safety of an aircraft.

Henderson had arranged the flight in which Sala, 28, and pilot David Ibbotson, 59, were killed when their plane crashed in the English Channel in January 2019.

At the time, Sala was involved in a £15 million transfer to Cardiff from Ligue 1 side Nantes and was travelling between the two cities when he died.

An inquest into the footballer’s death is due to take place in Bournemouth next year.

During a pre-inquest review, Rachael Griffin, senior coroner for Dorset, said she had received a letter from lawyers representing Henderson regarding the inquest.

Reading the letter, Ms Griffin said: “We are instructed that our client has no further evidence to give to the senior coroner beyond that which he gave at criminal trial. Our client was in the witness box for a full day and sincerely believes there is nothing more that he can add.

“Fundamentally it was accepted by both the prosecution and Mr Justice Foxton that the way the flight arranged and operated did not cause the aircraft to crash.”

Henderson’s trial at Cardiff Crown Court heard he was not “pressured” into organising the flight by football agent Willie Mckay and did so “for financial advantage”.

During the trial the court heard how Henderson had asked Mr Ibbotson to fly the plane, as he was away on holiday in Paris with his wife.

Mr Ibbotson, who flew regularly for Henderson, did not hold a commercial pilot’s licence and his rating to fly the Piper Malibu had expired.