Residents in Norfolk and Suffolk were startled by a loud noise that reverberated across the counties, leading many to speculate that it could have been a sonic boom.
Witnesses described feeling terrified as the noise, resembling an explosion, rattled nearby buildings. The unsettling event occurred in the skies above Norfolk and Suffolk around 4.30pm earlier today.
Simon Boston, who was at a petrol station in Necton near Swaffham, Norfolk, when the noise occurred, likened the sound to a significant crash, expressing his surprise at the intensity of the boom.
Social media platforms were soon abuzz with accounts of the incident, with one individual sharing how the boom shook their entire house. Another person mistook the noise for a vehicular accident, highlighting the impact of the sudden loud sound.
Speculations arose online, with one user questioning if the event was a sonic boom or a practice run for a hypothetical “Blitz 2.” A Facebook user suggested that the noise could potentially be attributed to a passing F-15 aircraft breaking the sound barrier.
One eyewitness mentioned hearing jets overhead during the confusion, leading them to believe that the occurrence was indeed a sonic boom. Sonic booms are generated when an aircraft surpasses the speed of sound, producing shockwaves that result in the distinctive booming noise.
The speed of sound is approximately 760mph (1,225km/h) at sea level, with the intensity of the boom being more pronounced at higher altitudes.