Greater Manchester Police has confirmed two men have died after an aircraft crashed near a popular beauty spot.
Officers were called to reports of a light aircraft crash in the town of Littleborough, Rochdale, today.
The Cirrus light aircraft had taken off from Birmingham on Tuesday and crashed in a farmland area of Littleborough shortly after 11am, GMP said.
The force does not believe there was anyone else on board, and there are no reported injuries on the ground.
Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis, from the force’s Rochdale district, 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.”
A parachute could be seen hanging off a pylon
|
PA
Stephanie Mills, from Dickey Steps Riding School in Littleborough, said she spotted a yellow parachute near to the scene.
She told the BBC: “There wasn’t any noise, I didn’t hear anything but there is a huge yellow parachute. There is a lot of police and helicopters here too.”
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed it has launched an investigation into the crash and sent a team to the site.
In a statement, 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.”
Emergency services at the scene in Rochdale
|
PA
Aircraft enthusiast Nigel Stanley, from nearby Hollingworth Lake Caravan Park, said the plane appeared to release its onboard parachute before getting tangled in an electricity pylon.
He told the Manchester Evening News: “We saw a lot of police earlier and that alerted us that something was wrong. Where the pylons run along the bottom of Blackstone moor there is a parachute caught in one of the pylons.
“The parachute is there for if the engine malfunctions or there’s a medical emergency.
“The mist is now low on the moor, but you can still see the parachute caught on the pylon.”
Emergency services near to the scene of a light aircraft crash near Rochdale
|
PA
The National Grid has confirmed the pylon beside the crash, which has been pictured with a parachute attached to it, has not been damaged and that electricity supply to the area is continuing.
A spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with those affected by this incident, which is a matter for the police to investigate.
“We are working with the emergency services to support their response and help make the area safe.”