X17 has been told by sources close to Britney's family that the helicopters circling above Britney's home last night and into the early morning were part of a pre-hatched, tightly orchestrated effort to make sure Brit didn't flee her home before police could get a warrant to enter her house and have her taken into custody under a 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold.

Apparently the family or law enforcement thought there was a significant risk of Britney leaving her home before emergency workers could get to her. We believe that's exactly what happened Tuesday night -- the "intervention" that was reportedly supposed to take place then was perhaps not an intervention at all, but an effort to get Britney to the hospital under a 5150.

When Britney left her house in a huff with her new paparazzo friend Filipe, she hooked up with "boyfriend" Adnan and the two drove north on the freeway, as we reported yesterday. We believe they may have turned around to go home after Brit's mom Lynne directed Adnan to do so. By the time the couple had returned home, Lynne's plans were ruined and she knew she would have to try again the next day ...