AN INQUEST into the death of professional footballer Emiliano Sala may not take place until 2022, after the coroner decided to adjourn the final hearing until the conclusion of related criminal proceedings.

On Monday, January 21, 2019, a plane carrying Mr Sala and pilot David Ibbotson was flying from Nantes to Cardiff when it lost contact with Air Traffic Control, north of Guernsey.

Mr Sala’s body was brought to Portland Port in Dorset on Thursday, February 7, 2019, and detectives from Dorset Police began carrying out enquiries into the circumstances of the death on behalf of HM Coroner.

In June 2019, Dorset Police arrested David Henderson, a private pilot from North Yorkshire, on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the Cardiff City striker's death. A decision was made by the force to not seek charges, but the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is prosecuting Mr Henderson for a 'reckless/negligent act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft/person in an aircraft' on January 18-19, 2019.

Mr Henderson is also facing a charge of allowing an unauthorised non-UK registered aircraft to take on board/discharge passenger/cargo in the UK on September 21, 2019. Mr Henderson denies all charges and a plea/trial preparation hearing is set for October 26 at Cardiff Crown Court.

However, these criminal proceedings have caused a delay in the inquest into Mr Sala's death. Senior coroner Rachael Griffin said it would not be in the interest of justice to resume until the outcome of those proceedings.

She said: "I don't intend to suspend the inquest formally. However, I don't intend to hear the inquest until the conclusion of the prosecution.

"I'm very sympathetic of the wishes of the family and of Mrs Ibbotson, this inquest should be concluded as soon as possible. My duty as a coroner is to conduct a full and fearless investigation, I'm required to establish the full circumstances of Emiliano's death. I remain of the view that this inquest will be adjourned beyond the conclusion of the prosecution."

Keith Morton QC, representing the CAA, indicated that the criminal proceedings against Mr Henderson could finish in early 2022, meaning it could be three years since the death of Mr Sala that his family finally get the answers they are looking for.