A thunderous sonic boom rattled homes across Essex, Suffolk, and Kent on Wednesday afternoon, leaving residents startled and searching for answers. The deafening noise was later confirmed to be caused by an RAF Typhoon fighter jet scrambling to intercept an unresponsive aircraft.
RAF Responds to Unresponsive Plane
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Typhoon was launched from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire after air traffic controllers lost contact with a civilian aircraft. The jet was authorised to travel at supersonic speeds, resulting in the dramatic sonic boom heard across multiple counties.
Eyewitness Accounts
"It sounded like an explosion right above our house," said one shaken resident from Colchester. "The windows rattled and my first thought was that something had crashed."
Social media quickly flooded with reports from concerned citizens across the region, with many initially fearing an earthquake or terrorist attack before the RAF explanation emerged.
Understanding Sonic Booms
Sonic booms occur when an aircraft breaks the sound barrier, creating a shockwave that can be heard on the ground as a loud explosion-like sound. While startling, they pose no direct danger to people or property.
The RAF has confirmed that the incident concluded safely, with the unresponsive aircraft eventually re-establishing communication. No further details about the civilian aircraft have been released due to operational security.
