A huge military aircraft filmed flying above Wirral this morning has been confirmed as an RAF transport plane deployed for "routine essential operational training".
The RAF military transport plane, an A400m Atlas, can be used to carry up to 116 troops fully-equipped at an altitude of 40,000ft.
The plane was spotted in the skies above New Brighton about 9am this morning and captured on film at the Wallasey resort by ECHO reporter Abby Nicholson.
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A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence confirmed the craft was conducting training in Wirral today.
The spokesperson said: "I can confirm an A400m Atlas from RAF Brize Norton was completing routine essential operational training in the Wirral area today."
RAF Brize Norton located in in Oxfordshire, is the largest RAF Station in the UK with around 5,800 Service Personnel, 1,200 contractors and 300 civilian staff and is home to the RAF's Strategic and Tactical Air Transport (AT) and Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) forces, as well as host to many lodger and reserve units.
The spokesperson added: "Civilian airports across the UK offer unusual airspace for our crews to train in to ensure we remain ready and able to deploy on global operations."
A s imilar A400m was spotted circling Liverpool and Wirral last month, prompting ECHO readers to get in touch asking for help identifying it.
