A LIGHT aircraft has come crashing to the ground near a lake – sparking a massive emergency response.
Emergency crews raced to the scene of the crash earlier today after it was reported the aircraft, understood to be carrying two people, fell from the sky.
A scene has been established around a beauty spot near Hollingworth Lake in Littleborough, Greater Manchester as police, paramedics and fire crews rushed to respond.
The public are being urged to keep clear of the area as emergency crews work at the scene.
It remains unclear if anyone was seriously injured in the crash with cops saying two passengers were believed to be on board the aircraft.
Greater Manchester Police said they were working alongside paramedics and fire crews and “assessing any casualties.”
The type of aircraft involved also remains unclear but initial reports suggest it was a small plane.
According to Flight Radar the downed aircraft is a Cirrus SR 20 – a small propeller plane.
A witness told BBC Radio Manchester that one of the passengers appeared to have parachuted from the plane as it went down.
Stephanie Mills said that she saw a large yellow parachute caught up in a nearby pylon.
She said: “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.”
Several incident response units and helicopters are understood to be at the scene.
Manchester Evening News reports the aircraft took off from the Midlands earlier this morning.
It is then believed to have started to lose altitude over Littleborough before crashing on land between Blastone Edge and Hollingworth Lake.
Greater Manchester Police said: “Emergency services are responding to reports of a light aircraft crash in the Littleborough area.
“We are currently in attendance to establish the full circumstances and assess any casualties.
“A scene is in place whilst emergency service workers conduct their enquiries and people are asked to avoid the area as this work is carried out.”
