Businessman found guilty of endangering aircraft that killed Emiliano Sala

David Henderson has been found guilty of endangering the flight which killed Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala.

The footballer, 28, and pilot David Ibbotson died on 21 January 2019 after their plane, which was travelling from Nantes to Cardiff, crashed into the English Channel.

Henderson was accused of failing to adhere to safety protocols while arranging the flight.

The 67-year-old denied acting in a reckless or negligent manner, but a jury found him guilty on Thursday after a nine-day trial.

Henderson hired Ibbotson despite the pilot not having a commercial license and not being allowed to fly at night. A court also heard Ibbotson, 59, was "not competent" to fly in bad weather.

Henderson was also accused of employing Ibbotson in the knowledge his license to fly the N264DB plane had expired.

The single-engine Piper Malibu went down north of Guernsey in stormy conditions.

David Henderson arranged the flight which carried David Ibbotson and Emiliano Sala

Sala's body was recovered by a private salvage operation one month after the crash. He was travelling to the United Kingdom after joining Cardiff in a £15million transfer.

The body of Ibbotson, of Crowle, Lincolnshire, has not yet been recovered.

After the tragic event, Henderson sent texts saying: "B***** disaster. There will be an enquiry."

Prosecutor Martin Goudie QC previously told the court Henderson - a former RAF officer - ran an "incompetent, undocumented, risk creating and dishonest" enterprise.

He added: "The longer they operated the more risks were taken and the worse it got.

"What he did was not an accident, what he did here was deliberate and reckless."

The defence claimed the accused had fallen foul of a "paperwork issue" and insisted Ibbotson's ability as a pilot was not affected by his lack of a commercial license.

"It is ultimately the pilot in command's responsibility," said Henderson as he addressed the court.

Henderson will be sentenced on 12 November.

Judge Mr Justice Foxton said: "All sentencing options are on the table I make that clear. Bail will continue on the same terms but that is no indication towards sentence."

Emiliano Sala was killed in a plane crash in January 2019 ( Image:

Getty)

Sala was travelling from France to the UK after Cardiff signed him on 19 January 2019 on a three-and-a-half year deal for a club-record fee.

He had caught the eye during the first half of the 2018/19 season with 12 goals in 19 Ligue 1 appearances for Nantes.

Sala earned the Player of the Month award for October 2018 and his move to the Bluebirds was expected to strengthen their bid to avoid relegation.

A post-mortem after the devastating crash showed the player had been exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch suggested Ibbotson may also have been exposed, potentially leading to unconsciousness or drowsiness.