THE reason why a plane belonging to the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner was flying circles over Worcester has been revealed.
West Mercia Police has confirmed the aircraft, a Vulcanair P.68R, was called in to help search for a missing man.
Andrew Haldane, from Worcester, was reported missing yesterday morning when he failed to return home from work.
READ MORE: Police searching for man who went missing after leaving work
The 45-year-old was last seen leaving his place of work, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, at around 5pm on Monday, June 6.
Mick Bradley, flight duty officer at the the National Police Air Service, confirmed that they deployed the aircraft on request of West Mercia Police.
According to Flightradar the plane belongs to West Yorkshire PCC and set off from Doncaster at 12:50pm.
According to eyewitnesses it spent around two hours circling over Ombersley.
At 4pm the aircraft stopped circling and began heading south and was passing over Tewkesbury at 4:06pm as it headed for Southend where it was due to land at 5pm.
READ MORE: Yorkshire police plane doing circles over Worcester
Andrew is described as 6ft 5 and of a slim build, with a bald head and wears glasses. It is believed he could be in the Ombersley area of Worcester.
He drives a silver Ford Focus estate which officers are keen to locate.
Officers are growing increasingly concerned for Andrew's welfare and urge anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to call 999 immediately.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here