Nearly £150k raised for missing Lincolnshire pilot

The family of missing North Lincolnshire pilot David Ibbotson have so far raised close to £150,000 to find him and “give him the send off he deserves”.

As previously reported, a body was found by underwater search teams investigating the wreckage of the Piper Malibu N264DB which vanished near the Channel Islands on January 21.

The body was formally identified as footballer Emiliano Sala while Ibbotson from Crowle in North Lincolnshire remains missing.

The body found has been formally identified as Emiliano Sala. Lincolnshire pilot David Ibbotson is still missing.

Fundraising campaign

David’s family launched a GoFundMe page to continue the search – set up by Danielle Ibbotson – which at the time of writing has raised £149,684 of its £300,000 goal.

French football star Kylian Mbappe donated £27,000 to the appeal under the name Elie Lottin. Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker also donated £1,000 urging more people to contribute to the appeal.

On the fundraising page David’s family wrote: “Please help bring David Ibbotson home and help give him the send off he deserves.

“As a family we are relying on the kindness of the good hearted people to help us raise the much needed funds to help us find our beloved Dad, Husband and Son.

“As a family we are trying to come to terms with the tragedy and the loss of two incredible men.

“To be told the search has now been called off for the foreseeable future has only made this tragic time more difficult.

“We can not bare the thought of him being alone, we need him home so that we are able to lay him to rest.

“Any donations would be very much appreciated. To ensure a search is done so we are able to give David the correct send off he deserves and to support the family.

“Thank you so much for your support Ibbotson family.”

Private search

The image shows the rear left side of the fuselage including part of the aircraft registration. Photo: AAIB

Funds were previously raised for a private search after the initial mission and investigation was called off after four days of intense searching.

The wreckage of the plane was discovered in the English Channel near to Guernsey on February 3.

The discovery was made after a privately-funded sonar search and collaboration between the Air Accident Investigation Branch and Blue Water Recoveries Ltd.

After a body was recovered from the wreckage it was taken to Portland before being passed into the care of the Dorset Coroner. It was then formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as Emiliano Sala.

The body was taken to Portland before being passed into the care of the Dorset Coroner. The body has since been formally identified by HM Coroner for Dorset as Emiliano Sala.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch previously said the extensive video record captured by the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) is expected to provide valuable evidence for the safety investigation.