Sky Scanner - Flight Radar 24 - flight paths

[Friartruckster]

Any other keen flight in the sky watchers able to explain this flight pattern?

I had a bit of fun deciding which category to place this question in.

Looks like the lead in to a diversion to Stansted (1 "a" only...😏)..

The circling might have been done to burn fuel off to get the aircraft down to below maximum landing weight (AFAIK no fuel dumping facility on any 737), and/or to allow time for cabin preparation or for ATC sequencing purposes...the list of possible reasons is almost endless.

Interesting. Thanks. I check it out. Intrigued.

You"re welcome..

Diversions are not that uncommon so you might not find much more unless a passenger posts of social media, and it's maybe worrh bearing on mind most diversions (Uk at least) happen for medical reasons,

FWIW just south west of where that circling went on the airspace gets very busy with traffic into places like Heathrow, so I suspect it was as good a place as anywhere for ATC to "park" the aircraft whilst whatever needed doing (including reducing altitude) was done.

You’re right. Diverted to Stansted and makes senses circling to dump fuel for landing. Now I wondering why.

Don't think circling was for dumping - I'm pretty sure 737s don't have a dump facility.

I was in the flying business and based on that my best guess is the circling was done for ATC purposes and/or just to generate a bit of time for the crew to go through some processes before heading into Stansted.

As mentioned upthread statistically, UK, the most common reason for a diversion is medical. I think the aircraft continued on to destination after a short time on the ground, which points to it probably being a passenger issue rather than something wrong with the aircraft.

Unless.something pops up in social media we may never know the reason..they are often usually very much run of the mill.

Thanks again. All makes sense.