The pilot of the plane carrying footballer Emiliano Sala was not qualified to fly at night.

David Ibbotson, 60, who flew the plane from Nantes to Cardiff is believed to have been colour-blind, meaning he was unable to fly at night.

The BBC has reported that regulatory authorities have confirmed that Mr Ibbotson did not hold a "night rating" on his UK private pilot's licence.

The body of the 28-year old premier league footballer was recovered from the wreckage of a plane in early February after the plane, with just himself and Ibboston aboard crashed into the English Channel on the 21st January.

An aviation source told BBC Wales: "Colour-blindness stops a pilot from obtaining a night rating straight away because being able to differentiate between green and red lights is key to flying in the dark."

The private pilot held a UK licence mirrored by a US pilot’s licence which meant he was able to fly the Piper Malibu, a US-registered aircraft in Europe. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licence states Mr Ibbotson "must have available glasses for near vision" and that "all limitations and restrictions on the United Kingdom pilot licence apply".