Police have provided a significant update following a tragic plane crash in Rochdale that resulted in the deaths of two individuals earlier this week. The incident occurred on remote farmland near Blackstone Edge, Littleborough, when a light aircraft crashed shortly after 11am on February 3. The two men on board were pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the victims, Arian Abbasi, was described as a devoted husband and loving father. The 36-year-old was about to embark on a new chapter as a commercial airline pilot. The crash, involving a private Cirrus SR20 aircraft, happened around 40 minutes after departing from Birmingham Airport.
Authorities, including Greater Manchester Police and specialists from the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), are actively investigating the tragedy. The probe is exploring all possible causes of the crash, with a focus on the deployment of a parachute that became entangled with a nearby pylon.
Earlier, police issued a warning urging the public not to touch a missing part of the aircraft that posed a serious risk. The missing 30cm component of the parachute system, containing propellant, was safely retrieved over the weekend by a member of the public. In a statement, the police expressed gratitude to everyone who assisted in locating the item, particularly acknowledging the individual who found it on Saturday, February 7.
