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Emiliano Sala's pilot was not authorised to fly at night: Reports

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Mar 30, 2019, 04:30 PM IST
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A image of Emiliano Sala is left outside the stadium as tribute. Photograph:(Reuters)

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As per the reports, the pilot was colour blind that automatically disqualified him from night flights. 

David Ibbotson, who was the pilot of the plane carrying Premier League footballer Emiliano Sala, was not authorised to fly at night, the British media reported. 

As per the reports, the pilot was colour blind that automatically disqualified him from night flights. 

Although, Britain's Civil Aviation Authority did not confirm the report, saying only that an investigation was still underway.  

The Air Accident Investigations Branch said, "Licensing continues to be a focus of the AAIB's safety investigation, but matters of legality are an issue for the regulator." And also said licensing "continues to be a focus" of its investigations. 

As per the European aviation rules, the night is the time from half an hour after sunset until half an hour before sunrise. 

Flight plans indicate the flight scheduled to take the Argentine player had been due to leave Nantes airport at 9 am on January 21 but it was postponed until 7 pm on Sala's request.

Last month, there were reports that the plane carrying Sala was not authorised to make commercial flights. 

But the investigators pointed out that Ibbotson had in the past transported people on a cost-share basis, which is authorised by the regulation for small planes. 

Sala, 28, had signed for English Premier League side Cardiff City and was flying to his new team from his old club Nantes in France when his plane went missing over the Channel on January 21. 

His body was recovered from the submerged wreckage of the plane. Ibbotson's body has never been found.