Two seat cushions likely to be from the missing plane carrying Emiliano Sala are found washed up on a beach in France

Two seat cushions have been found washed up on a beach in north west France and investigators believe the seats are from the missing plane carrying Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala which disappeared over the English Channel.

Search crews have been scouring the sea around the Channel Islands since the Piper Malibu being flown by pilot Dave Ibbotson disappeared on Monday, January 21.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said today:

On the morning of Monday 28 January, we were advised by the French safety investigation authority, that part of a seat cushion had been found on a beach near Surainville on the Cotentin Peninsula. 

A second cushion was found in the same area later that day. From a preliminary examination we have concluded that it is likely that the cushions are from the missing aircraft.