Pilot that crashed in English Channel ‘not qualified to fly at night’

Published on 01 April 2019

The pilot of the plane that crashed on 21 January is believed to have been color blind. The plane crashed into the English Channel late at night, after the flight had been delayed from earlier that day.

The pilot is thought to have been colour-blind, and his licence restricted him to flying in daytime hours only. An aviation source told BBC Wales that the ability to be able to differentiate between green and red lights is “key” to flying in the dark.

The pilot of the plane which crashed into the English Channel with Emiliano Sala on board, was not qualified to fly at night, BBC Wales understands. David Ibbotson is thought to have been colour-blind, and his licence restricted him to flying in daytime hours only.

Footballer Emiliano Sala, 28, died when the plane carrying him from Nantes to Cardiff crashed late on 21 January.

Read the full article on bbc.com/news/uk-wales-47749265