Sonic boom causes panic over London after RAF jets scrambled to unresponsive aircraft
People woken as loud explosion causes windows to shake in parts of southeast
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A loud bang heard overnight in parts of London and southeast England was a sonic boom caused by RAF fighter jets, police have said.
Two Typhoon planes were scrambled from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire shortly after 4am on Sunday to an unresponsive aircraft which had lost communication.
The aircraft caused an explosion-like sound which was heard across parts of the southeast, prompting a “large number” of calls to Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue.
People living in Essex, London, Cambridge and Stevenage were among those tweeting to say they had been woken up by the noise.
An RAF spokeswoman said: “Two Typhoon fighter aircraft from RAF Coningsby were scrambled at 4.09am this morning, as part of the UK’s quick reaction alert procedures, after an aircraft lost communications in UK airspace.
“The aircraft was intercepted and its communications were subsequently re-established. The Typhoons are returning to their base.”
London’s Metropolitan Police said: “The loud bang heard throughout north London and surrounding areas was the result of a sonic boom from RAF planes. There is no cause for concern.”
Andrew Holding tweeted video footage capturing the loud bang in Cambridge, where he was woken by the noise.
Kiran Topman also shared a recording from northwest London.
A sonic boom is caused when an aircraft approaches the speed of sound (768mph).
Air pressure, which builds up at the noise of the plane, is forced to escape, creating a “thunderclap” that travels over huge distances in the wake of the jet.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments