A police helicopter's flight path that formed a phallic shape over Hampshire, England, has been described as an "unfortunate" coincidence by officials.
The incident came to light when resident Gordon Bird, 53, checked online tracking data for a police helicopter circling his home late Monday evening. The noise from the helicopter had woken his 2-year-old daughter.
Bird told the BBC he was "shocked" to discover the risqué shape in the aircraft's route, which took about half an hour to form. Data from the flight shows the helicopter made the outline primarily over Blackbushe Airport before circling over Ancells Farm in Fleet and returning to base.
"I'm not angry, I am upset at the waste of resources," Bird said regarding the flight's apparent purpose.
The National Police Air Service (NPAS) contacted Bird to apologize for disrupting his daughter's sleep. In a statement to the BBC, the service acknowledged the shape, stating it was "unfortunate" that the flight path "resembles a particular shape."
NPAS explained that the helicopter was engaged in "a legitimate policing purpose," assisting in tracking a vehicle that had failed to stop for police. The agency noted that police helicopter flights are dynamic and do not follow predetermined plans due to the unpredictable nature of ground circumstances.