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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Connor Lynch

'Burning plane' spotted in the skies above Northern Ireland was contrails, says expert

Concerns were raised this morning after a "burning plane" was spotted in the skies about Northern Ireland.

A viral video captured by Adam Canning on his way to work this morning sparked concerns that a plane was landing at Belfast International Airport on fire.

However, it would appear that these fears were unfounded and that it was actually due to contrails from a plane and the time of day they were seen.

When the sun is rising and setting, its light can reflect off of the contrails and make them look like they are a different colour.

There have been previous occasions where this has been spotted and people have thought it was a meteor.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Adam said that he was shocked when he saw what appeared to be a plane landing at Belfast International Airport on fire, with his video being viewed thousands of times in a matter of hours.

Many people commented on his social media post saying that it was likely caused by the sun hitting the contrails, while others claimed there had been a fire at the airport.

The NIFRS and Belfast International Airport have confirmed there were no incidents of a plane on fire at the International Airport.

The National Air Traffic Services have explained how these contrails occur in the sky.

A spokesman said: "White cloud streaks high up in the sky are one of the ways you can tell a plane has been overhead. These condensation trails, or contrails, form when hot exhaust gases meet colder, low-pressure air in the atmosphere at certain humidity levels and at very specific altitudes."

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