Light aircraft crashes in Greater Manchester with two people believed to be on board

A light aircraft has crashed in Greater Manchester, police have said.

Two people are believed to have been on board the plane.

The crash happened in the Littleborough area, and emergency services are at the scene.

A statement from Greater Manchester Police said: "Emergency services are responding to reports of a light aircraft crash in the Littleborough area.

"We are currently in attendance to establish the full circumstances and assess any casualties.

"A scene is in place whilst emergency service workers conduct their enquiries and people are asked to avoid the area as this work is carried out."

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) has 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."

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(c) Sky News 2026: Light aircraft crashes in Greater Manchester with two people believed to be on board