A light aircraft has crashed near Littleborough in Greater Manchester, with two people believed to have been on board, as emergency services launched a large-scale response and investigators began working to establish what happened.
Police said crews were called to the Littleborough area and are now on site, securing the scene and assessing any casualties. The crash location is understood to be on land close to Hollingworth Lake, where access can be complex due to open ground, narrow approach routes and the need to keep bystanders away while rescue and investigative work is under way.
At a glance
• Where: Near Littleborough, Greater Manchester, close to Hollingworth Lake
• Who: Two people believed to have been on board
• Response: Police, fire and ambulance services at the scene
• Investigation: AAIB notified and launching a formal inquiry
Police issue new update after aircraft crash with investigation ongoing https://t.co/HKFmkMQMaY
— Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) February 3, 2026
In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said officers were responding to reports of a light aircraft crash and were “in attendance to establish the full circumstances” while assessing potential casualties. A cordon has been set up and the public has been asked to avoid the area as emergency workers conduct enquiries and manage safety risks around the site.
Images shared online appear to show a yellow parachute partly wrapped around the base of an electricity pylon near the crash area. While authorities have not confirmed specific technical details, the photographs have intensified attention on reports that the aircraft may have been equipped with an emergency parachute system designed to lower the plane to the ground in a serious in-flight emergency.
Early reports suggest a Cirrus SR20 may have been involved. That aircraft type is commonly associated with a whole-airframe parachute system intended to provide an additional option if a pilot encounters a scenario where a normal landing is not possible. Investigators will need to determine whether any safety systems deployed, the sequence of events leading up to the impact, and the role that terrain and conditions may have played.
A flight tracking post circulated online indicated a Cirrus aircraft departed Birmingham Airport shortly before 10am, with a last recorded signal later in the morning south of the M62 near Marsden. It has not been officially confirmed whether the tracked flight is the same aircraft involved in the Littleborough crash, and investigators typically caution that tracking data alone is not enough to establish identity or cause.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has confirmed that the incident has been notified to it and that an investigation has been launched, with a multidisciplinary team travelling to the site. The AAIB is the UK body responsible for examining civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents, and its role is to establish what happened and what safety lessons can be learned, rather than to apportion blame.
Once on the ground, investigators typically begin by securing the scene, documenting the wreckage position, and preserving perishable evidence. They may also review any available flight data, communications records, maintenance history and witness accounts. In incidents involving light aircraft, enquiries can include everything from mechanical performance and pilot decision-making to weather, visibility, and the suitability of the surrounding terrain for emergency manoeuvres.
For residents and visitors around Littleborough, the most immediate impact is likely to be disruption in the area as emergency services continue to operate. Police have urged people not to travel towards the cordoned zone, both to keep access clear for emergency vehicles and to reduce the risk of onlookers interfering with safety operations.
Updates on the condition of those believed to have been on board are expected to come through official channels when confirmed. In the meantime, investigators will be working methodically, and it is common for early information to remain limited while the scene is stabilised and initial evidence is gathered.
Official information on accident investigations and safety updates can be found via the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
This is a developing story. As official updates are confirmed by police and investigators, the picture of what led to the crash — and how the response unfolds on the ground near Hollingworth Lake — will become clearer.
