LONDON • Relatives of missing Premier League player Emiliano Sala on Saturday began a privately funded search for his plane, which disappeared over the English Channel, after local coast guard called off their own rescue mission. "The appeal launched late Friday afternoon enabled Emiliano Sala's relatives, via a specialised organisation, to resume research in the Channel early this Saturday morning," said a statement on the GoFundMe website. Around 4,000 people have so far contributed to the campaign, which was organised by Sala's agency, Sport Cover, raising almost €321,343 (S$496,167). Rescue workers formally called off the search for the missing plane on Thursday. "We had no involvement in selecting a plane or a pilot and wish to make clear we do not own the plane that Emiliano flew on," the Briton said in a statement.

Source: BBC January 27, 2019 21:00 UTC