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A Beluga XL made a last minute surprise visit to the Airbus site in Broughton.

It was the first visit by the second of three Beluga XL's on order by the plane maker.

They will join the current fleet of five Beluga aircraft to carry wings from the Flintshire plant to the Airbus assembly plants at Hamburg and Toulouse.

The flight was made for testing purposes and after landing the aircraft spent time in the loading station.

Technicians and officials worked on the plane until another Beluga arrived and the XL was moved away and final preparations were made for take-off.

(Image: David Powell / North Wales Live)

Enthusiasts had gathered at various vantage points around the airport to watch the giant aircraft.

It took off to the north-west and circled the area on its way to Bremen in Germany with its load.

The Beluga XL is based on the popular A330 widebody passenger aircraft. It will be able to carry a pair of A350 wings from Broughton.

The three aircraft, when delivered, will operate alongside the other Beluga aircraft which have been in service for more than 20 years. They are also based on an Airbus passenger plane, the A300.