MANCHESTER, ENGLAND — Drivers on the M56 near Manchester Airport faced significant disruption on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, following reports of a multi-vehicle collision on the eastbound carriageway between Junction 7 and Junction 6.
According to the incident information provided, five vehicles were involved, including a lorry, a flatbed truck and three cars. Emergency services attended the scene as efforts were made to manage traffic and remove the damaged vehicles.
Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Road | M56 |
| Location | Between Junction 7 and Junction 6 |
| Direction | Eastbound |
| Date | Wednesday, September 16, 2026 |
| Vehicles involved | Five, according to the supplied incident report |
| Vehicle types | Lorry, flatbed truck and three cars |
| Reported trapped occupants | None |
| Traffic impact | Major eastbound delays |
| Reported delay | Approximately 45 minutes |
| Lane status | Lane 1 reportedly reopened; other lanes remained closed during recovery |
| Investigation | Circumstances remained under review |
The reported collision brought eastbound traffic to a standstill while emergency responders and recovery crews worked at the scene. No occupants were reportedly trapped in the vehicles.
Information supplied about the incident stated that Lane 1 of the four-lane carriageway was later reopened, while Lanes 2, 3 and 4 remained closed to allow recovery operations to continue.
Drivers approaching the area were reportedly facing delays of around 45 minutes, with congestion building as traffic was restricted around the crash scene.
National Highways is responsible for major motorways and A roads in England and provides live information on incidents, closures and disruptions. Its current indexed information also shows ongoing M56 works around Junctions 6 and 7, meaning motorists should check the latest traffic information before travelling.
The circumstances surrounding the reported collision, including whether anyone sustained injuries and what caused the crash, could not be independently established from the reliable sources available at the time of writing.
Motorists travelling toward Manchester Airport were advised to allow additional time, monitor official traffic updates and exercise caution around the affected section of the motorway.