Emiliano Sala confirmed dead in plane crash

The body recovered from the wreckage of a crashed plane on Wednesday has been formally identified as that of professional footballer Emiliano Sala, police said on Thursday.

Tributes to Emiliano Sala during the French Cup match between Nantes and Toulouse at Stade de la Beaujoire on February 5, 2019 in Nantes, France. [Photo:VCG]

The Argentine player was travelling to Cardiff in a plane piloted by David Ibbotson, which went missing over the English Channel on January 21.

The body was recovered late on Wednesday after the wreckage was found on Sunday morning.

"The families of Sala and the pilot Ibbotson have been updated with this news and will continue to be supported by specially-trained family liaison officers," the statement said.