An underwater search is set to begin for the missing plane carrying Cardiff City footballer Emiliano Sala, a scientist involved in the operation has said.

Funding for a private air and sea rescue mission was secured after the official efforts were brought to an end, with more than 4,000 people having made donations to help surpass the €300,000 (£259,000) target.

Now shipwreck hunting expert David Mearns, who has been assisting the family, has said a survey vessel has been hired to carry out an underwater search this weekend.

Sala disappearance 'the most difficult week'

Mr Mearns, of Bluewater Recoveries, told reporters in Guernsey: "We have sourced and hired a survey vessel equipped with state-of-the-art search equipment, which will be used to conduct an underwater search for the wreckage in the area of the last radar contact.

"The survey vessel is currently being mobilised in Southampton and, subject to weather conditions, will be re-positioned to Guernsey on Thursday or Friday this week.


"Based on current weather predictions, we are hopeful that the underwater search will begin on the weekend, most probably on Sunday."

Emiliano Sala's family resume search

Surface searches will continue in the meantime, with local fishing boats among those helping to look for any sign of the plane, which had been flying from the French city of Nantes to Cardiff.

The Piper PA-46 Malibu aircraft disappeared from radar near the Channel Islands, with Sala and pilot David Ibbotson the only people on board.

Guernsey harbour master Captain David Barker said the chances of survival were "extremely remote", but the private operation got under way after more than 800,000 people signed an online petition.

Image: Sala signed for Cardiff for a club-record £15m

Mr Mearns said the family - who have travelled to Guernsey - still have hope and thought there was a "very good chance" of finding the plane, but added that they are "struggling" with what has happened.

"The family still have some hope, they're looking at this as a missing person, a missing plane, and until they are satisfied, that's the mode that we're in," he said.

"This is a family that have come from Argentina with this huge shock out of nowhere and (is) struggling with what had happened, with very, very few answers about an unexplained loss."

'Please don't stop the search for Emiliano'

The update from Mr Means came hours after Cardiff boss Neil Warnock spoke publicly for the first time about the disappearance of Sala, 28, who signed from Nantes for a club record £15m.

"Firstly I want to apologise for not doing anything last week," he said.

"I have been in football management now for 40 years and it is by far the most difficult week in my career by an absolute mile. It's traumatic. I can't get my head around the situation."

Image: Sala was enjoying a prolific season for Nantes

The flight left Nantes for Cardiff at 7.15pm last Monday and lost contact with Jersey air traffic control as it made its way over the English Channel.

On Friday, text messages between Sala and the son of agent Willie McKay discussing flight arrangements emerged.

Mr McKay said that although he had arranged the flight for Sala through a company he had used many times, he did not own the plane, select the aircraft or the pilot.

Vigil in France for missing footballer

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has opened a probe and their investigations will include whether the pilot had the correct licence.

According to Federal Aviation Administration records, Mr Ibbotson, 59, held a private pilot's licence and passed a medical exam as recently as November,

Staff and fans of Cardiff are expected to wear yellow daffodils on Tuesday for their match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Over the weekend, tributes were paid to Sala and Mr Ibbotson before a number of FA Cup games.