Emergency services are currently responding to a significant incident involving a light aircraft crash in farmland within the Littleborough area of Greater Manchester. Greater Manchester Police confirmed they received reports of the crash, which occurred on Tuesday morning, with two individuals believed to have been onboard the aircraft at the time of the incident.
Flight Details and Emergency Response
A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport verified that a private light aircraft departed from its XLR Executive Jet Centre at approximately 10am on Tuesday. According to data from the flight tracking website FlightRadar24, a Cirrus SR20 aircraft took off from Birmingham just before 10am, travelling for around forty minutes before its last signal was detected south of the M62 motorway near Marsden in West Yorkshire.
The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service stated that emergency services were alerted to the scene shortly after 11.30am and continue to provide support on-site. Images shared on social media platforms appear to depict a yellow parachute entangled on a pylon close to the crash location. Cirrus, the manufacturer of the aircraft suspected to be involved, confirmed that a parachute is included as standard equipment on all its certified aircraft models.
Investigation and Safety Measures
A spokesperson for the National Grid affirmed they are collaborating with emergency services to assist in the response and ensure the area is made safe, noting that the electricity supply remains unaffected. Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis, district commander for Greater Manchester Police's Rochdale district, emphasised the coordinated effort, stating: "We are working closely with emergency service colleagues and partner agencies to establish the full circumstances."
He added: "There will be an enhanced presence as officers and investigators comprehensively survey the area and ensure all available evidence is recovered. We would ask people to please avoid the area while emergency services remain on scene, to ensure that a full investigation and review can be carried out. If anyone has any information, or witnessed the crash, we would urge you to get in touch with us."
Official Investigation Launched
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has confirmed it has initiated an investigation into the crash and dispatched a team to the site. In an official statement, the AAIB said: "An accident involving a light aircraft which occurred today near Rochdale, Greater Manchester has been notified to the AAIB. An investigation has been launched and a multidisciplinary team of inspectors are on their way to the accident site."
The incident has prompted a large-scale emergency response, with authorities focusing on both immediate safety concerns and the subsequent detailed investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
