On March 28, 2026, a very imposing plane made several loops over Nord and Pas-de-Calais on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Between approximately 8:50 pm and 10 pm, the aircraft circled between Lille and Dunkirk, passing over Armentières, Ypres, Bergues, Saint-Omer, and Béthune.
It was not a commercial aircraft but rather a plane from the Air Force, specifically an A330 MRTT (Multi Role Tanker Transport) manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space. This military transport and refueling aircraft supports critical missions ranging from air power projection to rapid troop deployment, cargo transport, medical evacuation, and humanitarian aid.
Emmanuel Macron and Thomas Pesquet were onboard the plane, departing from Istres to Paris after the President’s New Year’s wishes to the Armed Forces on January 15.
The plane took off from Istres at 7:50 pm and traveled across France before arriving above Nord and Pas-de-Calais around 8:50 pm. It left the area around 10 pm and landed back in Istres at 11:44 pm.
The aircraft was likely conducting refueling operations for one or more other aircraft in flight, one of its specialties.
In a potential exercise with one or more Belgian Air Force fighters, a similar operation took place between Lille and Dunkirk on May 28, 2025. The Air Force plane, similar to the one that flew on Tuesday evening, made a brief stop at Lille-Lesquin airport.
It remains unclear whether this recent overflight was part of a similar operation or if it is related to the conflict in the Middle East. The Public Information and Relations Service of the Armed Forces (SIRPA) stated on Friday, March 27, that they are awaiting precise information to provide a complete response.
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