Two people die after light aircraft crash

Two people have died after a light aircraft crash in Greater Manchester.

The crash happened in a farmland area in Littleborough, Rochdale, shortly after 11am. Greater Manchester Police said two men were found and they were pronounced dead at the scene.

It is not believed there was anyone else on board and there were no reported injuries on the ground. Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis said: "This is a devastating incident where two people have lost their lives and our thoughts are with their families and friends.

"We have been working closely with emergency service colleagues and partner agencies throughout the day to establish the full circumstances and we will be on scene overnight and into tomorrow. "There will be an enhanced presence as officers and investigators comprehensively survey the area and ensure all available evidence is recovered.

"If anyone has any information, or witnessed the crash, we would urge you to get in touch with us." Photos shared on social media appear to show a yellow parachute partly wrapped around the base of an electricity pylon. There are reports that the aircraft which crashed is a Cirrus SR20, a plane which is fitted with a parachute system designed to deploy in an emergency.

The flight tracking website, flightradar24, posted a message on X showing an image of a Cirrus aircraft, believed to be involved in the accident. It said a plane departed Birmingham Airport at 9.59am and the last signal was received at around 10.39am "south of the M62 motorway near Marsden".

It has not officially been confirmed whether this is the aircraft which crashed. A Birmingham Airport spokesman confirmed a private light aircraft left its XLR Executive Jet Centre at around 10am on Tuesday.

Other images from the scene show a large response from the emergency services, with several fire engines, police and ambulance vehicles. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) issued a statement related to the crash.

"An accident involving a light aircraft which occurred today (3 February) 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.".