Sonic Boom Rattles East & South‑East England
Thunderous Shock Heard in Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Kent, London
A thunder‑like boom echoed across parts of East and South‑East England just before noon. At about 11:40 BST, residents in Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Kent, and parts of London reported a loud bang. Homes shook. Doors rattled. Social media buzzed with surprise and questions.
RAF Launches Typhoons After Plane Loses Contact
Quick Reaction Alert Stops Panic
The Royal Air Force sprang into action. They scrambled three QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) Typhoon fighter jets from RAF Coningsby. Pilots intercepted a civilian aircraft that lost contact with air traffic control. Soon after, communications resumed. The civilian plane landed safely at Stansted Airport. The Typhoons then returned to base. No danger emerged on the ground.
An Essex Police spokesperson confirmed the facts. They said a flight traveling from Nice lost contact. RAF aircraft escorted it into Stansted. Police found nothing unusual after it landed.
´What Exactly Is a Sonic Boom?
A sonic boom happens when an object breaks the sound barrier. That means the aircraft travels faster than sound. At 60,000 ft (18,300 m), sound moves at around 660 mph (1,060 km/h). Jets flying faster than that create shockwaves. These waves compress and decompress air. The result? A sudden, explosive noise.
People hear sonic booms over a wide area. The sound travels with the plane, similar to a boat’s wake that fans out behind it. That’s why many people across the region heard it.
People Describe Their Fear and Surprise
“I Thought It Was an Explosion”
In Chelmsford, Essex, a resident said the upper part
“What Was That Clap?
In Braintree, Conor Kehoe (33) watched TV with his fiancée, Manisha Dev (32), when the room trembled. Kehoe first assumed his brother had caused the noise inside. “At first, we thought it was inside,” he said. “Only later did we realise the noise came from outside.”
They headed out. Neighbours gathered. Kehoe added, “It sounded like a bowling ball landing in a bath. Like a thunderous clap but very echoey.” Ms Dev, visiting from Singapore, said she’d never experienced anything like it. “I thought it was like… a bomb,” she said.
Why It Matters
Sonic booms can spook communities. People equate them with accidents or explosions. Air traffic authorities and the RAF have to respond fast. That helps calm fears and prevent dangerous misunderstandings.
Here, the intervention worked. The intercepted plane landed safely. No one got hurt. Local police confirmed no safety issues on the ground.
Sonic Boom Facts You Should Know
Fact Detail
What causes it Aircraft traveling faster than sound produce shockwaves.
Speed of sound at altitude About 660 mph (1,060 km/h) at 60,000 ft.
Why you hear it far away The boom travels with the aircraft, spreading widely.
Common reactions Sudden bangs, shaking houses, sparking fears of explosions.
Final Thoughts
At 11:40 BST today, a sonic boom jolted East and South‑East England. Thousands heard it. Social media lit up. Homes shook. The cause: a civilian flight from Nice briefly lost contact. Three RAF Typhoons intercepted the flight and safely escorted it to Stansted. The scare ended quickly. No explosion occurred. Everyone remained safe.
RAF and local authorities handled the incident smoothly. Prompt action, clear communication, and trained personnel prevented panic from worsening. Still, the loud boom left an unforgettable stamp on anyone within earshot