Mystery AN12BP

[Four Wings]

On Friday 7 June at about 2100 BST I heard a heavy turboprop crossing central London at a fair altitude. As this is unusual I checked FR24 which showed it as a AN12BP about 5 hours out of Heraklion, unreported destination, heading approx NW at about 20,000. Unfortunately I did not note the reg and I have no history as I only have the basic free FR24.
Intrigued I kept an eye on it on my mobile. It continued to an area In the Midlands SW of the M42 / M40 aŕriving approx 2130+. It then circled for some time, and descended to 10,000. After further circling it descended to 3,000, and was circling for at least 10 minutes when at about 2205 BST it went 'off screen' - presumably transponder switched off.

Does anybody know what it was up to?

[PPRuNeUser0130]

Just a normal cargo flights? I get a few overhead every week, always tend to notice them due to the very distinct sound

[treadigraph]

I heard it pass over London as well, it was Ukraine Air Alliance's UR-CAK and it went into Birmingham - looks like various other Birmingham arrivals held around then for a while.

[CW247]

This beast has woken me up in the past. One of the loudest turboprops you'll ever hear

[readywhenreaching]

UR-CAK is the only one the makes sense.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ur-cak#20ce03e6

[c52]

Even the free version of FR24 gives you a week's worth of history.

[Livesinafield]

There are currently 2 AN12s sat at bhx today, so assume its them, they have been there a lot lately over on the Elmdon apron.

[Hotel Tango]

Yep, AN-12s at BHX is not that unusual. They used to be regulars at my local airport, Maastricht, until they and Antonov 24/26s, were banned because of noise complaints by a few local residents, all of which moved in close to an active airport and then started complaining about aircraft noise!!! This included an Air Traffic Controller who worked at the airport, bought a house right next to the runway, and as soon as he retired joined a campaign against aircraft noise!!! Bear in mind that movements at Maastricht are quite limited in numbers anyway.