A West London pilot who tragically died in a light aircraft crash was just weeks away from beginning his dream job with a commercial airline, according to an emotional tribute from his grieving family.
Family's Heartfelt Tribute to Passionate Aviator
Arian Abbasi, 36, from Harrow in Greater London, lost his life alongside another man when a Cirrus light aircraft crashed near Littleborough, Rochdale, shortly after 11am on Tuesday. Greater Manchester Police confirmed the incident and are continuing their investigation into the circumstances.
In a moving statement released on Friday, Mr Abbasi's family described him as "a deeply loving father and a devoted husband" who lived his life for his family and friends, providing them with constant love, strength and support.
They revealed that flying was his true passion, and he was on the verge of starting an exciting new chapter with a commercial airline on February 23 - a dream he had pursued with immense pride and determination throughout his career.
Crash Investigation and Missing Component Search
The private aircraft had departed from Birmingham Airport's XLR Executive Jet Centre at approximately 10am on Tuesday morning. Social media images from the scene appear to show a yellow parachute entangled on a pylon near the crash site on farmland in Littleborough.
Police investigators are currently searching for a specific part of the aircraft's parachute system that contains propellant. A spokesperson explained that "the nature of the terrain, and the wide area over which it may have travelled, has made finding the device very difficult."
The missing component is described as:
- Approximately 10cm in diameter and 30cm in length
- Featuring a red anodised finish
- Weighing under 2kg
- Possibly having a silver metal collar attached at one end
Public Safety Appeal from Authorities
Greater Manchester Police have issued a public appeal regarding the missing device. Anyone who comes across the component is urged not to touch it under any circumstances, but to immediately contact the police on 101 or via their official website's live chat function.
When reporting any potential sighting, members of the public should quote reference log 1056 of 03/02/26 to ensure the information reaches the correct investigation team promptly.
The aviation community and local residents have expressed their condolences following the tragic incident, which has cut short a promising career just as Mr Abbasi was about to achieve his professional ambitions in commercial aviation.
