Footballer Sala's flight organiser jailed for 18 months

British air accident investigators concluded that the pilot lost control of the Piper Malibu aircraft and flew too fast to avoid bad weather

The businessman who organised the 2019 flight that crashed in the Channel, killing Argentine footballer Emiliano Sala, was on Friday jailed for 18 months for flouting safety rules.

David Henderson, 67, was last month convicted by a jury in Cardiff for endangering the safety of an aircraft over the death of the 28-year-old striker.

He will also concurrently serve a three-month sentence for attempting to discharge a passenger without valid permission or authorisation.

Henderson -- a former Royal Air Force officer -- had already admitted that charge, which typically concerns a business operator failing to acquire the appropriate licences to hire a plane commercially.

The single-engine Piper Malibu plane carrying Sala from France to join Cardiff crashed into the sea near the Channel island of Guernsey on January 21, 2019, killing him and pilot David Ibbotson, 59.

Ibbotson, who regularly flew for Henderson, did not hold a commercial pilot's licence or a qualification to fly at night and his rating to fly the aircraft had expired.

Judge David Foxton said Henderson organised the flight without the correct certificate and necessary safety systems to comply with UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements.

"The lack of certificate was not a mere piece of paper. Air safety regulations and systems are designed to give effect to them and are written in blood," Foxton said.

"You were aware your aircraft operations were unlawful and took steps to make sure the operation was off the radar. 

"This was illustrated by your message to Mr Ibbotson, which read: 'We both have the opportunity to make money out of the business model but not if we upset clients or draw the attention of the CAA'."

Sala had signed for the Welsh outfit, who were then in the Premier League, for a club-record £15 million (18 million euros, $20 million) from French Ligue 1 side Nantes.

He was one of the French league's top scorers before his death, netting 12 goals in 19 games in the 2018/19 season.

His impressive form prompted Cardiff manager Neil Warnock to sign him in the 2019 January transfer window to aid the Bluebirds' ultimately unsuccessful battle against relegation.

A coroner's inquest into Sala's death will be held next year.

"Our thoughts remain with the families and friends affected by this tragic accident," said CAA safety director Rob Bishton.

"Illegal commercial flights represent a significant safety risk and that is reflected in the court's decision today.

"The aviation system relies on the integrity of all those involved. Anyone operating a commercial flight should always have the necessary licence and approvals in place."

A British air accident investigation report published in March last year concluded Ibbotson was not licensed to fly the plane or to fly at night.

It assessed that he lost control and flew too fast as he tried to avoid bad weather, and that both he and Sala were affected by carbon monoxide poisoning before the crash.

Sala's body was recovered from the seabed in February 2019 but that of Ibbotson has never been found.

Defence lawyer Stephen Spence argued against a jail sentence, saying Henderson faced "financial ruin" due to legal fees and would have to rely on his state pension.

The lawyer added that his client previously had a good character and now suffered mental health difficulties.

Henderson said after the case in a statement through his lawyers that he would consider whether to appeal against the conviction and sentence.

"Now that the case is concluded in the Crown Court, Mr Henderson wishes to formally pay his respects to the families of Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson," it added.

"It is important to point out that the Civil Aviation Authority have always accepted that the way in which the flight was arranged and operated did not cause the aircraft to crash."