A PLANE has been spotted zig-zagging in the skies near Halesowen, with the reason behind the unusual late-night flightpath now clear.

Flightradar24 showed the path of the Cessna 404 had been flying back-and-forth in the skies above Kidderminster and Dudley before travelling down to Herefordshire.

The plane operates from East Midlands Airport and is owned by RVL Aviation.

Halesowen News: The unusual flightpath from the Cessna 404 in the early hours of Friday morning. Picture from Flightradar24The unusual flightpath from the Cessna 404 in the early hours of Friday morning. Picture from Flightradar24

The company carries out aerial photography and mapping, and it's believed this is the reason behind the unusual flightpath seen shortly before 1am on Friday morning (February 12).

RVL Aviation says on its website that it carries out aerial photographic surveying, light detecting and ranging (LiDAR) systems, and thermal mapping for identifying heat loss from poorly insulated buildings.

The Environment Agency websites says LiDAR data is typically captured in the winter months when leaf cover is at a minimum.

Halesowen News: The unusual flightpath from the Cessna 404 in the early hours of Friday morning. Picture from Flightradar24The unusual flightpath from the Cessna 404 in the early hours of Friday morning. Picture from Flightradar24

"This is to ensure our height data is as accurate as possible for flood modelling purposes," it said.

"British winters and bright clear days are two things not normally associated with each other. LiDAR data can be captured day or night and due to the vagaries of British weather, flying opportunities can be limited."