Organizer of the flight in which Emiliano Sala died is sentenced

(CNN) – David Henderson, the organizer of the flight in which soccer player Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson were killed, was found guilty of endangering the safety of the aircraft, the Cardiff Crown Court confirmed to CNN on Thursday.

Emiliano Sala and driver David Ibbotson were traveling from France to Wales after Cardiff City agreed to sign the Nantes striker. The soccer star had said goodbye to his former teammates just before the plane crashed in the English Channel on January 21, 2019.

The body of Emiliano Sala was recovered from the rubble on February 6, 2019, following a search that was independently commissioned by the footballer’s family.

Ibbotson’s body has not yet been found and the plane has not been recovered.

Henderson was convicted by a 10 to two majority and will be sentenced Nov. 12 in Cardiff Crown Court, the court added.

The court heard that Henderson did not have a Foreign Carrier Permit (FCP), which he was required to have for the US aircraft, and did not have the required Air Operator Certificate, according to PA Media.

He had already admitted that he “attempted to de-register a passenger without a valid permit or authorization,” reported PA Media.

He faces a maximum of five years in prison on the charge of endangering the aircraft and two years on the lesser charge, reported PA Media.

Daniel Machover, who represents Emiliano Sala’s family, said in a statement sent to CNN: “Mr. Henderson’s convictions are welcome and we hope that the CAA will ensure that illegal flights of this type are stopped.

“David Henderson’s actions are just one piece in the puzzle of how the plane that David Ibbotson was flying illegally crashed into the sea on January 21, 2019.

“We do not yet know the key information about the aircraft’s maintenance history and all the factors behind the carbon monoxide poisoning revealed in August 2019 by the AAIB.

“The answers to these questions can only be adequately established in Emiliano’s investigation, which is due to begin in February next year.”

The statement added that the Sala family “fervently hopes” that everyone involved in the investigation will provide full access to the material.

Kate Staples, general counsel for the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), said Henderson’s “illegal and unsafe activity” was “unacceptable” and that the CAA “will always seek to prosecute illegal activities.”

The City of Cardiff was not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNN.