Plane may return to Heathrow following take off

A New York based plane which left Heathrow is circling the English Channel.

The United Airlines flight left the airport a short time ago but has been circling the English channel burning off fuel.

Officials at Heathrow Airport and United Airlines were unable to immediately comment on what was causing the flight to divert from its planned path.

However, the airline said in a reply to a question on Twitter that it had received no information "that ther is any plan to return to Heathrow".

Flight tracking website Airlive.net suggested on Twitter that the flight was "burning fuel before returning" to Heathrow.