Sonic BOOM over Britain: Millions hear ‘massive explosion’ as RAF Typhoon breaks sound barrier after being scrambled to escort ‘jet that lost communications’ to Stansted Airport
- Millions of people across the South reported hearing a sonic boom at lunchtime
- Heard across Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Cambridge, north and south London
- Military tracking sites suggested it was fighter plane breaking the sound barrier
Millions of people heard a sonic boom after an RAF Tycoon was scrambled this afternoon.
Residents across Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Cambridge, north and south London reported hearing an ‘explosion’ shortly after 1pm today.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the RAF Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert jets were launched from RAF Coningsby.
The two Typhoons were launched from Coningsby to intercept a private jet that had lost communications with air traffic control.
The jets are authorised to go supersonic if necessary – which is why the boom was heard.
Residents across Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent, Cambridge, north and south London reported hearing an ‘explosion’ shortly after 1pm today
The jets were authorised to fly supersonic, which is why the boom was heard for several miles
The two Typhoons were launched from Coningsby to intercept a private jet that had lost communications with air traffic control
The jets were authorised to fly supersonic, which is why the boom was heard for several miles.
The jet was escorted safely into Stansted Airport by 2pm.
TV presenter Rylan Clark-Neal tweeted: ‘Wish I’d checked Twitter before I decided to single handedly , automatic wine opener in hand inspect upstairs thinking a flying burglar had broken into my loft that was bloody loud.’
The bang was heard this afternoon, setting off car alarms and shaking windows.
Depending on the aircraft’s altitude, a sonic boom will be heard at ground level two to 60 seconds after it breaks the speed of sound.
The distance from which the boom can be heard is approximately one mile per 1,000 feet of altitude.
A supersonic aircraft travelling at an altitude of 30,000ft would cause a lateral boom of about 30 miles.