A cyclist may have witnessed the collision as they cycled across the bridge
In the early hours of a July morning on the M62 near Warrington, two young lives devoted to the sky were cut short on the ground — a reminder of how swiftly the ordinary act of traveling from one place to another can become irreversible. Captain Matt Greenhalgh and Senior First Officer Jamie Fernandes, both Ryanair pilots, were killed when the taxi carrying them collided with two lorries, leaving families, colleagues, and a rugby club to grieve what might have been. Now, investigators turn to an unseen figure — a lone cyclist crossing a bridge above the crash site at the moment of impact — in the hope that one person's quiet morning journey holds the key to understanding another's final moments.
- Two young pilots, aged 28 and 24, were killed instantly in a pre-dawn motorway collision that also left their taxi driver fighting serious injuries in hospital.
- A 61-year-old lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, raising urgent questions about what unfolded on the westbound carriageway between junctions 7 and 8.
- CCTV footage has surfaced showing a hooded cyclist crossing a bridge directly above the crash site at the precise moment of impact — a potential witness who may not yet know what they saw.
- Detectives are publicly appealing for the cyclist to come forward, describing their account as potentially essential to reconstructing the sequence of events that led to the fatal collision.
- Families of both men are being supported by specialist officers, while tributes pour in from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Marple Rugby Club, where Greenhalgh had played alongside his own father.
Just after 5:30 a.m. on July 11, a taxi carrying two Ryanair pilots was making its way along the M62 near Warrington when it collided with two lorries on the westbound carriageway. Captain Matt Greenhalgh, 28, from Stockport, and Senior First Officer Jamie Fernandes, 24, from Bolton, were killed instantly. The taxi driver survived but remains in hospital with serious injuries. The two men had been heading to Liverpool Airport when the crash occurred.
Greenhalgh was married and had studied at Middlesex University; Fernandes had only joined Ryanair in May after completing pilot training in Quebec, having previously attended Buckinghamshire New University and Bolton School. Both men's families are now being supported by specialist police officers, while tributes have come from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Marple Rugby Club — where Greenhalgh had played as a junior, senior, and alongside his father John.
Cheshire Police have identified a key figure in their investigation: a cyclist captured on CCTV crossing a bridge on Burtonwood Road — directly above the crash site — at the exact moment of the collision. The cyclist, wearing a dark hooded coat and possibly a cap, may have witnessed the crash unfold beneath them. Detective Sergeant Russ Sime has made a direct appeal for this person to come forward, stressing that their account could prove vital to understanding exactly what happened.
A 61-year-old lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on bail while the investigation continues. Police are also appealing for anyone with dashcam footage from the area to get in touch, asking the public to contact Cheshire Police quoting incident reference IML 1867786.
On the morning of July 11, just after 5:30 a.m., a taxi carrying two Ryanair pilots was crossing the M62 motorway near Warrington when it collided with two lorries on the westbound carriageway between junctions 8 and 7. Captain Matt Greenhalgh, 28, and Senior First Officer Jamie Fernandes, 24, were killed instantly. The taxi driver survived but remains hospitalized with serious injuries nearly a week later.
Cheshire Police are now searching for a witness they believe may hold crucial details about what happened in those final moments. Surveillance footage captured a cyclist traveling along Burtonwood Road, crossing the bridge that spans the motorway directly above the crash site, at the exact time of the collision. The cyclist was wearing a dark coat with the hood pulled up, and possibly a cap. Detectives believe this person may have seen the collision unfold beneath them and could provide vital information to help reconstruct the sequence of events.
Detective Sergeant Russ Sime appealed directly for the cyclist to come forward, describing them as a potential witness whose account could prove essential to the ongoing investigation. Police are also asking anyone with dashcam footage from the area to contact them.
The two pilots were en route to Liverpool Airport when the crash occurred. Greenhalgh, from Stockport, was married and had studied at Middlesex University. Fernandes, 24, from Bolton, had recently joined Ryanair in May as a first officer after completing pilot training at CAE in Quebec. He had previously attended Buckinghamshire New University and Bolton School. Both men's families are being supported by specialist police officers.
A 61-year-old lorry driver has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He was released on bail pending further enquiries as the investigation continues.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport released a statement expressing deep sadness at the loss of both men, who worked for Ryanair at the airport. Marple Rugby Club, where Greenhalgh had played as a junior, senior, and alongside his father John, posted a tribute describing him as a valued teammate and friend. The club's statement reflected on his years with the club and extended condolences to his family and those who knew him.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact Cheshire Police on 101 or through their website, quoting incident reference IML 1867786. The search for the cyclist witness continues as a critical part of determining exactly what led to the fatal collision.
Notable Quotes
This cyclist may have witnessed the collision as they cycled across the bridge over the M62, so we're urging them to get in touch with us as we continue with our enquiries.— Detective Sergeant Russ Sime, Cheshire Police
The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool John Lennon Airport are with their family, friends and colleagues at this time.— Liverpool John Lennon Airport
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why is finding this particular cyclist so important if there were already two lorries involved and one driver arrested?
Because eyewitness accounts from someone positioned directly above the crash can establish sequence and visibility in ways that physical evidence alone cannot. The cyclist was there at the exact moment it happened, from a vantage point the drivers themselves didn't have.
The taxi driver is still hospitalized. Could he not provide that account?
He's alive, which is fortunate, but serious injuries often mean memory gaps or incomplete recollection of the moments leading up to impact. A third-party observer—especially one with a clear sightline—fills in what the people involved cannot remember.
Do we know if the cyclist even realized what they'd witnessed?
That's the real question. They may have seen nothing unusual, or they may have seen everything and not yet connected it to the news. They might be afraid to come forward. That's why police are appealing rather than accusing.
What does the arrest of the lorry driver tell us at this stage?
It tells us police have preliminary evidence pointing to his actions as the cause, but arrest is not conclusion. The investigation is still active. The cyclist's account could confirm that theory or complicate it entirely.
These were young men with their whole careers ahead of them.
Yes. Greenhalgh was 28, married. Fernandes was 24, barely three months into his first officer role at Ryanair. Both had trained for years to reach that position. The rugby club's tribute speaks to Greenhalgh being someone people genuinely liked, not just a pilot but a person.