A pilot who used to fly the plane that was carrying Emiliano Sala has slammed claims that a mechanical failure caused the crash that killed the footballer.
Eduardo Hernandez Vidaurreta, 65, said he is 'sure' the aircraft did not 'fall to pieces' as the Cardiff City star's body is set to be repatriated to Argentina.
The £15million Premier League signing died after the Piper PA-46 Malibu David Ibbotson was piloting crashed over the Channel, leading to an outpouring of tributes including from netball player Luiza Ungerer, who said she had a secret relationship with him.
Mr Vidaurreta flew the plane plane between 2012 and 2015 and said the aircraft was 'marvellous' and told Spanish paper El Pais that any problems with it would 'surprise' him.
Sala's (pictured with netball player Luiza Ungerer) remains will be repatriated on Friday to his childhood home
After the Cardiff City player's body was recovered (pictured), the aircraft's former pilot rubbished claims that his death could have been caused by mechanical failure
A commercial pilot since 1976, he said the aircraft first belonged to a Floridian aviation school.
His friend Roberto Sastre forked out 500,000 euros to buy it in 2012 and bring it to Spain.
Mr Vidaurreta flew it for 200 hours over a four-year period and said it didn't give him any problems and believes anyone searching for a mechanical error are mistaken. 'The plane didn't fall to pieces, I'm sure it didn't,' he added.
But Sala - whose body will be flown home on Friday - sent WhatsApp messages to friends expressing fears over the plane's safety.
The former pilot has claimed that he is 'sure' the plane (pictured) did not fall to pieces despite Sala's fears as expressed to friends over WhatsApp
One read: 'Boys, I'm here on top of the plane that looks like it's about to fall apart. And I'm going to Cardiff, crazy, tomorrow we already started. In the afternoon we started to train, boys, in my new team.
'If you do not have any more news from in an hour and a half, I don’t know if they need to send someone to find me... I am getting scared!'
Seasoned flyer Mr Vidaurreta says the plane had life jackets and emergency oxygen tanks when a British firm bought it in 'good condition' four years ago.
Aviation experts told The Sun that ice building up of the wings may have caused the crash.
Julio Muller, mayor of the town of Progreso in Santa Fe where Emiliano grew up, confirmed his remains would reach Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires around 9am local time on Friday.
The footballer's body will then be taken to the provincial capital by road on a six-hour journey before reaching Progreso on Friday night for the wake on Saturday at the San Martin Club gym.
Mr Muller said Emiliano's mum Mercedes and sister Romina, who travelled to Europe after the light aircraft taking him from France to Cardiff disappeared over the Channel near Guernsey, have already rejoined his lorry driver dad Horacio in Progreso.
Referring to the footballer by his shortened name Emi he said: 'Emi's remains will reach Progreso, 300 miles north of Buenos Aires, late on Friday. The wake will be organised in the gym at San Martin FC.'
Sala's body will be welcomed home to the club at which he trained as a boy (pictured) following his
