Residents in Norfolk and Suffolk were startled by a loud bang that reverberated across the counties, leading many to speculate that it was a sonic boom. The sudden noise, likened to an explosion, rattled nearby structures, causing alarm among locals. The incident occurred in the skies above Norfolk and Suffolk around 4:30 pm.
Simon Boston, who was at a petrol station in Necton near Swaffham, Norfolk, described the noise as a “huge boom” reminiscent of a car crash. Social media platforms were flooded with accounts of the event, with one individual mentioning how the boom shook their entire house. Another person mistook the sound for a truck collision momentarily.
Speculations arose on whether it was a sonic boom or a military exercise, with one Facebook user suggesting the possibility of it being caused by a fast-moving F-15 jet breaking the sound barrier. Witnesses reported hearing jets overhead, further fueling assumptions of a sonic boom occurrence.
Sonic booms occur when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound, generating shockwaves that produce the distinctive booming sound. The speed of sound is approximately 1,060 km/h at altitudes of 60,000 feet.