RAF response as military Airbus plane flies low over Oxford

Residents of East Oxford were shocked today (Tuesday, June 9) as an Airbus A400M Atlas plane was seen and heard swooping low over the city.

The four-engine military transport aircraft, designed by Airbus, is used as a transport aircraft, for medical evacuation, air-to-air refuelling and aerial delivery of paratroopers, vehicles and humanitarian aid.

READ MORE: RAF response as transport aircraft spotted low over Oxford

Able to carry 32 tonnes of cargo, its maiden flight took place in 2009 and since then 130 have been produced.

The one spotted in Oxfordshire took off from RAF Brize Norton at 10.35am and landed at 1.36pm, with the aircraft spotted in East Oxford at around 12.15pm.

RAF Brize Norton (Image: Alamy/PA)

Over the course of its three hour flight, it did several circuits around Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties, going as far west as Ablington and as far south as Faringdon.

Clarifying the presence of the military vehicle so close to the ground a spokesperson for the RAF said it was on “routine training” in the area.

READ MORE: RAF update after transport aircraft spotted low over Oxford

RAF Brize Norton is the largest Royal Air Force station in the UK and, as such, it is not unknown for military aircraft to be spotted, and there have been several instances this year.

In early March, residents of Oxford were startled by fighter planes speeding over the city.

The RAF later confirmed that the flyover was for Operation Agile Warrior, an exercise designed to test the British air force’s ability to protect the nation amid a “volatile” global environment.