Inquest Opens into Birmingham Airport Plane Crash That Claimed Two Lives
An inquest has been formally opened into the tragic deaths of two men who lost their lives in a plane crash shortly after their aircraft departed from Birmingham Airport. The victims, both described as deeply loved family men, perished when their Cirrus SR20 light aircraft came down on February 3.
Details of the Fatal Flight and Victims
The aircraft, piloted by 36-year-old Arian Abbasi from Harrow, London, took off from Birmingham Airport just before 10 am. It traveled for approximately 40 minutes before the last signal was received south of the M62 motorway near Marsden, West Yorkshire. The plane ultimately crashed near Blackstone Edge, close to Littleborough in Rochdale.
Mr. Abbasi, a pilot born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1989, was on the verge of starting a new chapter with a commercial airline on February 23. His family described him as a deeply loving father and a devoted husband who lived for his family and friends, providing constant love and support. Flying was his passion, and he had worked with immense pride toward his dream career.
The passenger was 39-year-old Mustafa Qays Obadey, an interior designer from Greenford, west London, born in Baghdad, Iraq, in 1986. Greater Manchester Police hailed him as the glue of the family and community, noting he was a humble, kind man made of peace who was always available and accepting of everyone. Both men were identified through fingerprint matches in the national database.
Inquest Proceedings and Ongoing Investigations
Rochdale Coroners’ Court opened the inquest on Monday, February 16, with assistant coroner Michael Salt stating there is clearly a need for an inquest. No cause of death has been established yet, as investigations by Greater Manchester Police and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch continue into the flight's final moments.
Key components of the aircraft's ballistic parachute were recovered after a public appeal, with a member of the public finding the part containing propellant on the moor and handing it to police. Officers are investigating the parachute's deployment as part of their probe. A large police presence was established at the crash site, where images showed a yellow parachute caught on a nearby pylon.
Future Hearings and Background Information
Pre-inquest review hearings have been scheduled for June 8, 2026, for Mr. Abbasi and July 6, 2026, for Mr. Obadey. No date has been set for a full inquest. It is believed both men regularly flew from Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green Airport, a former RAF training base now serving as an aviation hub.
The community and families mourn the loss of these two individuals, whose lives were cut short in this devastating aviation accident. The inquest aims to shed light on the circumstances surrounding their untimely deaths.
