Tributes paid to pilot Arian Abbasi killed in Rochdale light aircraft crash

Tributes have been paid to a pilot who was killed in a light aircraft crash earlier this week. 

Arian Abbasi, 36, was one of two men onboard an aircraft when it crashed into farmland in near Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on Tuesday.

Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are continuing to comb through the area to find the device that should have deployed his parachute.

On Friday the family of Mr Abbasi, from Harrow, London, described him as a “a deeply loving father and a devoted husband.”

The tribute went on: “He lived his life for his family and friends, giving them his constant love, strength, and support.”

He was due to start his career as a commercial airline pilot on February 23.

“Flying was his passion,” his family added, calling it “a dream he had worked toward with immense pride and determination."

The aircraft had taken off earlier that morning from Birmingham.

The pair were reportedly flying in a Cirrus SR20, which is fitted with a parachute system designed to deploy in an emergency.

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Photos shared on social media after the crash appeared to show a yellow parachute partly wrapped around the base of an electricity pylon.

Police are still searching for the parachute’s propellant - which is crucial for its deployment.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “The nature of the terrain, and the wide area over which it may have travelled, has made finding the device very difficult.

"The device measures approximately 10cm in diameter and 30cm long and has a red anodised finish.

"It weighs less than 2kg. It may have a silver metal collar attached at one end."

Officers urged people to contact the police immediately if they find the device - via 101 or at gmp.police.uk, quoting log 1056 of 03/02/26 - and not to handle it.

(c) Sky News 2026: Tributes paid to pilot Arian Abbasi killed in Rochdale light aircraft crash