The widow of the pilot killed today in the Emiliano Sal crash emerged today from behind the padlocked gates to welcome the verdict against the man who led her husband over the English Channel to his death.
Nora Ibbotson claimed that life had to continue as normal after the long wait to see David Henderson face justice for the tragic death of her husband David Henderson, 59.
The widow, who was fighting to clear her late husband’s name, spoke calmly when she left the family home for work.
She refused to sentence Henderson, the pilot, who, according the trial, had arranged for the flight with William Willie’ McKay, a football agent.
However, she broke the silence that had been built up over months by letting her dogs exercise in the courtyard.
Nora Ibbotson (pictured together with her husband) said that life must continue as normal after the long wait for David Henderson’s trial. He was a tragic figure in her life.
She refused to condemn Henderson (pictured), who was the aircraft operator. The trial heard that Henderson had arranged the flight with William ‘Willie’McKay, a football agent.
After signing for the club from France, Footballer Sala flew from Nantes to Cardiff.
Pictured: Piper Malibu aircraft N264DB on the ground at Nantes Airport in France, before the flight that crashed into the Channel
Mrs Ibbotson stated that she was happy with the verdict and that it was all true.
Mrs Ibbotson refused to comment on Henderson’s trial, a case about which she says she was never informed.
When she was asked what the future looked like for the guilty, she replied: “I just need to move on.” I just need to keep going.
Henderson, 67, asked Mr Ibbotson if he could fly the plane while he was on vacation with his wife in Paris.
He flew regularly for him but did not have a commercial pilot’s license, a qualification to fly at nights, or a rating to fly the single-engine Piper Malibu.
She sighed, relieved that the long-running court case was finally over.
This photo was taken by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch to show the wreckage of the plane.
The aircraft carrying the Argentine striker crashed into the Channel near Guernsey on the night of January 21, 2019. Sala and Mr Ibbotson, the pilot (pictured), were both killed
She was asked what should happen Henderson’s sentence.
“It is someone else’s life and I don’t want to comment. I have to get to work now.
After signing for the club from France, Footballer Sala flew from Nantes to Cardiff.
The plane carrying the Argentine striker crashed into Channel near Guernsey in the evening of January 21, 2019. Sala and Mr Ibbotson were both killed.
Mrs Ibbotson spoke for the first time since October 2020, when she was facing another dark Christmas without any news about her husband’s fate.
William McKay, a football agent had a preoccupation’ about finding a pilot for Sala to be transported between Cardiff and Nantes in France. The court previously heard this.
Mr Ibbotson, a Cardiff City footballer, may have succumbed in carbon monoxide poisoning at the plane’s crash.
After extensive searches, Sala’s body was found. However, no trace of Mr Ibbotson was ever found. There were no further searches.
She also stated that they are not doing any other thing at the moment. We are not informed about anything.
“It is just a standstill. I am not getting much information myself. It’s just quiet at the moment.
In 2020, she acknowledged that her family was not hopeful of any closure. She stated, “It is how it is.” There is nothing happening.