Two men were tragically found death following the light aircraft crash
A major update has been given amid investigations into a fatal plane crash in Littleborough. Emergency services were sent out to farmland near Blackstone Edge shortly after 11am on Tuesday morning (February 3).
Greater Manchester Police says the bodies of two men were recovered, with both sadly pronounced dead at the scene. It is not believed that anyone else was on board the Cirrus SR20 light aircraft which plummeted to the ground.
Images from the scene on Wednesday showed emergency crews in attendance continuing to conduct enquiries, along with specialist investigators from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB). The aircraft at the centre of the investigation remains at the scene.
Formal identification is yet to take place for the two victims, according to Greater Manchester Police. There were not thought to be any other passengers on board and nobody else was injured.
In an update, the AAIB confirmed the aircraft is to be recovered and transported for further inspections at the authority’s headquarters, with investigators due to remain at the scene until Friday (February 6).
It’s understood that ‘all lines of enquiry remain open’ into the cause of the fatal crash. It’s thought that the deployment of a parachute is also forming as part of the probe. The M.E.N reported yesterday how the Cirrus aircraft is fit with automatic features, including a parachute to lower the aircraft to the ground in emergencies.
A spokesperson for the AAIB said: “An accident involving a light aircraft which occurred yesterday morning (3 February) near Rochdale, Greater Manchester was notified to the AAIB. An investigation has been launched and a multidisciplinary team of inspectors are at the accident site.”
The aircraft involved, registered G-GXVV, was owned by Daedalus Aviation (Services) Ltd – a Birmingham-based company offering pilot training experiences. FlightRadar24 data shows the aircraft left Birmingham Airport before heading north. The final signal was sent around 40 minutes later near Marsden, West Yorkshire.
Daedalus Aviation (Services) Ltd said it was ‘currently working with the authorities on the investigation’. A company representative added that the firm has ‘no further comment’ to make.
Chief Superintendent Danny Inglis, from GMP’s Rochdale district, said on Tuesday: “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.”
Witnesses are being asked to come forward to GMP. Details can be passed on by calling 101 or using Live Chat on GMP’s website, quoting log number 1056 of February 3, 2026.