Overview
- Residents near St Athan Airport reported loud bangs and low-flying military aircraft late Thursday night following a pre-planned exercise.
- South Wales Police and HM Forces staged the joint drill to rehearse coordination and contingency plans for a major incident.
- The force said the operation was arranged in advance, not linked to any intelligence or ongoing incident, and followed risk assessments to limit disruption.
- People in nearby communities described a loud explosion before midnight that shook homes in Rhoose, heard bangs in Pencoedtre, and saw what some believed were three Apache helicopters.
- Coverage noted the UK terrorism threat level remains at “substantial,” and added that St Athan is a former military airfield now owned by the Welsh Government after a 2019 transfer to civilian control.