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Paris: Loud boom heard in French capital was fighter plane crossing sound barrier, police say

Anthony Cuthbertson
in Paris
Wednesday 30 September 2020 06:54 EDT
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Sonic boom from fighter plane heard to French Open

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A fighter jet crossing the sound barrier was behind a loud blast heard throughout Paris on Wednesday, local police have said.

The sonic boom was heard across northern suburbs and as far south as Choisy-le-Roi.

Eyewitnesses reported buildings rocking and windows shaking.

The sound also briefly interrupted play at the French Open, with tennis players Stan Warwinka and Dominik Koepfer pausing to look up at the sky. 

“There is no explosion,” police said on Twitter

“It is to do with a fighter plane that crossed the sound barrier. Do not burden the phone lines of the emergency services."

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