Wreckage of plane carrying Sala found in English Channel

Wreckage from the plane that was carrying missing Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala was located on Sunday.

Fragments from the Piper Malibu aircraft piloted by David Ibbotson on Jan. 22 were found on the seabed of the English Channel as part of a private search, according to marine scientist David Mearns, per the Associated Press.

Mearns confirmed this on Twitter, saying, "wreckage of the plane carrying Emiliano Sala and piloted by David Ibbotson was located early this morning." Mearns led a private search alongside the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) that was made possible by crowdfunding that raised €300,000.

The AAIB are now on location to recover the aircraft.

The plane carrying Sala to Cardiff following a £15-million transfer from Ligue 1's Nantes disappeared between Pays de la Loire region in western France and south Wales. Seat cushions from the aircraft washed ashore on Wednesday.

According to Mearns, the families of Sala and Ibbotson have been notified.