Cardiff City's new record £15million signing Emiliano Sala and a pilot are feared dead after a private jet travelling from Nantes to the Welsh capital went missing.

A major search operation is underway involving two helicopters, two planes and a lifeboat after the light aircraft disappeared from radar near the Casquets lighthouse on Alderney in the Channel Islands.

Guernsey Police revealed that the Piper Malibu has been missing since 8.30pm on Monday night - and that the chances of those on board surviving were "slim".

The light aircraft had been flying at 5000ft but requested to land while passing Guernsey, with the a single-engine plane last detected at 2300 feet when they lost contact with Jersey air traffic controllers.

(Image: Cardiff city FC/Twitter)

An official statement from Guernsey Police added that the chances of survival are "slim" for those on board as they continue their search.

They said: "We have found no signs of those on board.

If they did land on the water, the chances of survival are at this stage, unfortunately, slim.

"Two planes and a lifeboat are still searching."

The news has sparked serious concern from Sala's new club Cardiff, who cancelled training on Tuesday in the wake of the incident.

Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo said: "We were very shocked upon hearing the news that the plane had gone missing. We expected Emiliano to arrive last night into Cardiff and today was due to be his first day with the team.

"Our owner, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, and chairman, Mehmet Dalman, are all very distressed about the situation.

"We made the decision first thing this morning to call off training with the thoughts of the squad, management staff and the entire Club with Emiliano and the pilot.

"All of us at Cardiff City FC would like to thank our fans, and the entire footballing family for their support at this difficult time.

"We continue to pray for positive news."

The player's dad, Horatio, told Argentine TV station Channel 5 News: "A friend told me, I did not know anything, I'm in Rosario, I'm desperate, I hope everything goes well.

"Still nobody from Nantes has communicated with us, we are worried, desperate, this took us all by surprise.

"I don't have any information on the journey, the only thing I know is that it was a small plane.

"They are saying that the plane lost control in the channel. I don't know what could have happened. I am speechless."

His mother, Mercedes, added: "The plane is from the President of Cardiff City FC, they informed us that the plane had disappeared and that they were looking for it."

Cardiff Airport confirmed the aircraft was due to arrive from Nantes but a spokeswoman said there were no further details.

Guernsey Police had said earlier on Tuesday: "There are currently two planes, two helicopters and a lifeboat searching for the aircraft.

"No trace has yet been found. Conditions during the search last night were challenging, with wave heights of up to two metres, with heavy rain showers and poor visibility.

(Image: Cardiff city FC/Twitter)

"Today the sea is much calmer, although visibility was good, it is now deteriorating. UK authorities have been calling airfields on the south coast to see if it landed there.

"So far we have no confirmation it did. Search continues. Decision at sunset about overnight search."

Both the Channel Islands Air Search team and coastguards are understood not to expect any survivors.

The mystery of how the plane disappeared is still puzzling officials as there was no radio conversation with the aircraft.

Sala was seen going through border control in Nantes ahead of boarding the plane.

(Image: Emiliano Sala/Instagram)

The Premier League club only unveiled the Argentine striker as their record transfer signing from Nantes last Saturday.

It is understood the player returned to France after completing his move and was due to report for training in Cardiff on Tuesday.

He posted a picture on social media on Monday afternoon with his former team-mates.

Sala wrote: "The final [heart emoji] goodbye @FCNantes."

Nantes President Waldemar Kita said: "He was a polite, kind and adorable boy, loved by everyone. He was very respectful, very courteous. I am thinking about his family and all his friends.

"I am still hoping that it is not finished, that he is somewhere, that he will be there. I have just found about this like you have."

Another of Sala's former clubs, US Orleans, has tweeted their best wishes for the striker and the pilot, both of whom are still missing.

"Sad news this morning, all our thoughts go to the relatives of @EmilianoSala1 and to the relatives of the pilot," the club's official account tweeted.

(Image: Getty Images)

Sala turned down a late mega-money offer to play in Chinese before putting pen to paper on a three-and-a-half year deal at Cardiff due to his desire to play Premier League football.

Speaking on Saturday after signing for the Bluebirds, Sala said: “I can’t wait to start training, meet my new team-mates and get down to work."

(Image: Internet Unknown) (Image: Press Association Images)

Before switching to Cardiff, Sala was the third highest scorer in Ligue 1 this season with 12 goals, behind only Kylian Mbappe and Nicolas Pepe.

Amine Harit, a Moroccan footballer who played with Sala at Nantes before joining German side Schalke in 2017, suggested he was praying for the missing player in a tweet.

He wrote simply "Emi.." followed by a string of praying hands and crying emojis. Nantes forward Randal Kolo-Muani retweeted Harit's message.

(Image: Getty Images)

Cardiff brought him in to boost their chances of staying in the Premier League beyond this season.

He added: "For me it feels special [to be the Club’s record signing]. I have come here wanting to work and to help my teammates and the Club. I can’t wait to get to work straight away and do everything I can."

A coastguard rescue helicopter and crews from Alderney and Guernsey RNLI joined the search in the area around the lighthouse.

HM Coastguard said the disappearance was not in the UK search and rescue area, but it had also sent two helicopters to help.

(Image: PA)

A spokeswoman said they were assisting Guernsey Coastguard with a search for a light aircraft off Alderney: "HM Coastguard helicopters from Solent and Newquay have been helping to search overnight with nothing found."

The Met Office said at the time the aircraft went missing "there were some showers around, but nothing too intense".

Reports in France claim that Nantes’ clash with Entente SSG on Wednesday has been postponed.

Cardiff are not in action this weekend but are due to face Arsenal on Tuesday.