Sala and pilot David Ibbotson were killed when the single-engine aircraft crashed into the English Channel in January 2019. The 28-year-old striker was on his way to be presented by new club Cardiff City, having signed from French side Nantes.
67-year-old David Henderson, who organised the flight with football agent Willie McKay, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Friday for endangering the safety of an aircraft after being convicted by a majority verdict at Cardiff Crown Court in October.
Former RAF officer Henderson had asked Mr Ibbotson to fly the plane as he was away on holiday in Paris, despite the latter not having a commercial pilot’s licence or a qualification to fly at night, and the fact his rating to fly the single-engine Piper Malibu had expired.
Henderson texted a number of people after hearing news of the crash, telling them not to speak and warning them it would “open a can of worms”. He told the court he was fearful of an investigation into his business.
