Mystery plane circling overhead baffles neighbours

Katie Westwood

3 July 2024 at 5:56 pm·2-min read

Part of the plane's route map on Flight Radar — -Credit: (Image: Flight Radar)

People have reported hearing a "very loud" plane circling overhead for a prolonged period this evening, sparking questions over what its purpose might be.

Neighbours in Birkenhead first reported hearing the plane at around 8pm this evening. It was later heard in Oxton and Wallasey.

A number of people took to social media to speculate over why the plane was circling overhead for such a long time.

Speaking to the ECHO, Rebecca from Wallasey described hearing a "loud and intense" noise that "just kept going". Rebecca said: "At first I just thought it was a normal plane overhead and then the sound just kept going and it was so loud.

"It was much louder than a helicopter, I couldn't see it from my window in Wallasey so I had a look on Flight Radar and saw that it had just been circling for ages, which is why it was so loud and intense."

A search on the Flight Radar website, which provides live air traffic updates, shows the plane is from the National Police Air Service.

The plane's route map indicates it took off at East Midlands Airport and flew north-west towards Merseyside, then began circling repeatedly over the northern part of the Wirral before heading back east.

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