The aircraft is now understood to have taken off from Birmingham Airport before crashing in Greater Manchester
15:34, 03 Feb 2026Updated 15:35, 03 Feb 2026
Police at the scene of the crash on moorland near Littleborough (Image: Jason Roberts / Manchester Evening News)
Police have issued a new update hours after an aircraft plummeted to the ground on moorland near Rochdale on Tuesday (February 3).
Officers from GMP, ambulances and firefighters were mobilised to an area of land near Blackstone Edge and Hollingworth Lake, with specialist emergency services crews also said to be in attendance. It followed reports of a light aircraft crash in the area.
It’s understood that two people were believed to have been onboard when it crashed. A yellow parachute could also be seen attached to a nearby pylon, with one person on board believed to have evacuated using the parachute.
It’s not yet known whether there are any casualties following the incident, with further updates from emergency services expected throughout the evening. A large scene remains in place with nearby roads closed off throughout the local area.
Huge emergency service response after plane crash near Littleborough
The aircraft is now understood to have taken off from Birmingham Airport at around 10am, before plummeting to the ground around 40 minutes later.
In an update, Greater Manchester Police said officers remained at the scene of the crash and are working with other emergency crews and the Air Accident Investigation Branch to try and establish the circumstances into what happened. Any witnesses are being urged to get in touch with investigators.
Fire crews attend to the crashed aircraft (Image: SWNS)
Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis, District Commander for GMP’s Rochdale district, said: “We are working closely with emergency service colleagues and partner agencies to establish the full circumstances.
“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.”
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch, which investigates civil aircraft incidents, has issued a statement confirming a team of ‘inspectors’ has been sent to the scene near Littleborough.
The AAIB said: “An accident involving a light aircraft which occurred today (February 3) 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.”
You can contact police via 101 or the Live Chat at www.gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1056 of 03/02/26.