Police in Edinburgh have confirmed that a force helicopter was deployed on Tuesday night to assist in searching for a vulnerable person.
Dozens of confused locals took to social media shortly after 10pm after hearing the helicopter in the south east of the city, near Holyrood Park and Portobello, with many looking at the flight path and recognised it was circling the same area.
While appearing unmarked on Flight Radar 24, Police Scotland confirmed that it was deployed to assist officers in searching for a "vulnerable" person who was traced safe and well.
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They said: "Around 8.10pm on Tuesday, 20 September, police attended the Holyrood Park area of Edinburgh, following concern for a man, who was subsequently traced safe and well.”
A tweet uploaded by the Police Scotland Air Unit read: "Police helicopter was deployed to Edinburgh last night to assist @EdinburghPolice in the search for a vulnerable person."
A rare picture was also uploaded from inside the helicopter as darkness fell over the city. Locals reported the spotlight shining over areas such as Holyrood and Duddingston and Craigmillar.
One user on Twitter even reported seeing more than one helicopter, although that has not been confirmed by Police Scotland.
One said: "The amount of airplane/helicopter noise outside right now - assuming someone is being rescued off Arthur!? Or is there finally a high speed car chase happening in Scotland?"
Another said: "There appears to be a search helicopter flying over Arthurs Seat, Newington Prestonfield I wonder what is going on in Edinburgh this evening. I do hope that everyone is OK."
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