A MILITARY plane capable of carrying 37 tonnes has flown over Malvern this afternoon.

A 'Comet 451' Royal Air Force airbus flew over Malvern and the surrounding areas after taking off from Brize Norton.

The plane is an A400M Atlas using the callsign 'Comet 451' and has the ability to carry a 37-tonne payload.

It had a calibrated altitude of roughly 20,000 feet and a 300kts ground speed.

The Atlas is operated by two pilots and a weapons systems operator and is capable of operating at altitudes up to 40,000ft.

Malvern Gazette: Screenshot taken from the Flightradar24 app.Screenshot taken from the Flightradar24 app. (Image: Flightradar24)

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It will accommodate as many as 116 fully-equipped troops, vehicles, and helicopters, including a Chinook, mixed loads including nine aircraft pallets and 54 passengers and more.

Paratroops can be dropped from the aircraft's dedicated paratroop doors, or from the rear ramp.

Loads can also be delivered by parachute, gravity extraction from the aircraft's rear ramp or by landing.

Its intended destination is not currently known.