Air traffic controllers unmask ‘ghostly plane’

AIR traffic controllers have had to step in to halt rumours of a ghost plane which internet users thought flew across Spain at night.

Those who have heard it insist it sounds like some sort of war-plane, and reports of sightings (or rather hearings) spread like wildfire across social media sites, quickly christening it the #avionetafantasma (ghost plane).

Over recent months many internet users followed tracks and photos of a ‘mysterious’ aircraft that repeatedly crossed the skies of Cantabria heading south across Spain.

People in Cordoba also reported hearing the racket as the aircraft flew overhead and thousands took to the internet to discuss it, converting the tag #avionetacordoba in a national trending topic.

People in Campillos and Estepona in Malaga Province also reported hearing the racket.

Air authorities, alarmed at the amount of interest that sprung up over the craft, explained that the not-at-all mysterious aircraft is a four-engine Antonov An-12 belonging to Ukrainian Cavok Air airline that transports goods at night from the East Midlands, in the UK, to Morocco.

Air-traffic controllers confirmed on Twitter that the goods-plane flew over Cordoba and Malaga at a height of approximately 25,000 feet, considerably lower than commercial planes which generally have a cruising altitude of more than 30,000 feet.

Controllers assured that there was nothing at all ghostly about the craft, which is constantly present on radars every time it crosses Spain, entering above Cantabria and leaving over Cadiz.

Although it is not common for planes to be heard passing overhead, experts explained that the Antonov is one of the oldest, largest and noisiest cargo-planes on the market and its four propeller engines are responsible for the noise it creates.