People across Kent, Essex, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire reported hearing the sound and said they felt their ‘houses shake’ at around 11.30am this morning
This is the exact moment two RAF Typhoon jets tracked down a private plane flying over London – just after residents heard a “huge sonic boom.”
People across Kent, Essex, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire reported hearing the sound and said they felt their “houses shake” at around 11.30am this morning.
Two Typhoon jets from RAF Coningsby were sent to intercept the private jet over Cambridgeshire, as tracking maps showed the jets also flew over London this morning. The “sonic boom” is believed to have been caused by the RAF jet flying at a supersonic speed, indicating the planes broke the sound barrier.
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The fighter jets accompanied the craft to Stansted Airport, Essex, after communication was reinstated.
A Royal Air Force spokesperson said: “We can confirm that RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft from RAF Coningsby were launched today to investigate a civilian aircraft which was not in contact with air traffic control, communications were re-established and the aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted. The Typhoons are returning to base.”
The incident left locals taking to social media to express their confusion at the noise. One wrote: “Anyone else just hear a sonic boom over south Essex?” He then added: “Thought I was going mad, couldn’t see anything outside the house then checked Plane Finder.”
Another person in Essex said: “Heard a bang in Braintree. Loud enough for people to go outside to have a look.”
Jenny Coxall said she heard a loud “vacuum-style” bang from her home in Greenhithe. She said: “I thought it was someone hitting our garage.
“But when I went outside, all our neighbours were on the street, wondering what had happened. Everyone thought it was some sort of demolition or a house explosion.”
Essex Police said it began to receive reports of a sonic boom at about 11:40am. A spokesperson said: “A flight has been escorted into Stansted Airport after it lost contact with the ground.
“Contact was re-established with the plane, which had been travelling from Nice, and was escorted into the airport by RAF aircraft. On the ground, our officers determined there was nothing of concern.”