Mystery ‘sonic growth’ heard over Norfolk and Suffolk as residents despatched into panic
Residents in Norfolk and Suffolk have reported a huge bang over the counties, with many suspecting it to be a sonic boom.
Locals have been left “terrified” after hearing what sounded like an explosion. They also reported feeling nearby buildings shake at approximately 4.30pm this afternoon.
Simon Boston, who was at a petrol station in Necton near Swaffham, Norfolk, said the “huge boom” sound like that of a car crash. He said: “I initially thought it had been a car crash on the A47, reports The Express. Residents reported what they heard on social media, with one person saying the boom made their “whole house shake”.
The post read: “Extremely scary sonic boom over Norwich, made the whole house shake.” A second person wrote: “I thought a truck had crashed or something for a moment there.”
A third said: “Sonic boom over Norwich or rehearsal for Blitz 2?”
A Facebook user said the loud boom broke the sound barrier. The post said: “Following the loud bang noise we all heard, we think was possibly a F-15 passing by, they go quite fast and break the sound barrier, therefore was probably a sonic boom.”
It is believed the noise was jets flying overheard but it is currently not known why.
One woman told the Eastern Daily Press: “It was all very confusing, but I could hear jets overhead, so I assume it was a sonic boom.”
A sonic boom occurs when an aircraft travels faster than the speed of sound, creating shockwaves that result in the rapid compression and decompression of the surrounding air.
Although the speed of sound varies with altitude, it is approximately 660mph (1,060km/h) at 60,000ft (18,300m).
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