This is why a giant military plane was spotted flying low over Wakefield

A giant military plane was spotted flying low over Wakefield yesterday - much to the delight of people in the district, who flocked to share photos online.

By Holly Gittins

Published 13th Apr 2021, 10:22 BST

Updated 13th Apr 2021, 13:01 BST

A giant military plane was spotted flying low over Wakefield yesterday - much to the delight of people in the district, who flocked to share photos online. Photo: Scott Merrylees

The plane, a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M, was spotted flying over Wakefield yesterday afternoon.

It prompted dozens of keen plane spotters to share photos on social media.

The plane is believed to be the Ascot 462, a plane based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

According to flight tracking website FlightAware, the plane took off at 11.41am yesterday.

It flew over Wakefield and continued on to Newcastle, before returning to West Yorkshire to complete a route which included several loops over Wakefield and a journey up to Newcastle before returning to base at 2.43pm.

The Airbus 400M was last spotted flying over the district in May 2020, when it completed training exercises in the skies above West Yorkshire.