Norwich sonic boom: Huge explosion heard above Norfolk - 'Windows shook'
THE RAF has confirmed a sonic boom heard in Norwich this morning was caused by one of their planes.
Norwich: 'Sonic boom' heard on home surveillance system
People took to social media after hearing the "huge bang" at around 11.45am which made their windows and houses "shake". One wrote: "Sonic Boom going off over Norwich a short while ago!"
Another tweeted: "Just outside of Norwich and we heard and felt a boom which made the windows shake #sonicboom."
A third asked: "Anyone else in the Norwich area just hear a huge bang/boom?"
Another posted: "Was there a sonic boom over Norwich? Huge bang just now."
A fifth said: "Massive boom felt and heard in Hellesdon, Norwich.
"Birds flew off in a mad panic. Anyone know what happened?"
Another tweeted: "Did anyone else hear that loud boom over Norwich at 11:46am? #boom #norwich."
One added: "The sonic boom or whatever it was in Norwich just now literally made my house shake. I too am shooketh."
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Another Twitter user said: "Sonic Boom going off over Norwich a short while ago @RAFConingsby maybe? #sonicboom."
An RAF spokesman confirmed the sonic boom was caused by a plane carrying out a high-speed dive for an air test schedule.
The spokesman said: "The sonic boom heard in East Anglia was inadvertently caused by an RAF Hawk aircraft completing a high-speed dive as part of an air test schedule, any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.”
A sonic boom is heard when an object travels through the air faster than the speed of sound.
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Anyone else in the Norwich area just hear a huge bang/boom?
— Heidi ������ (@Norfolk_Mum_3) January 27, 2021
Was there a sonic boom over Norwich? Huge bang just now.
— James Myhill (@James_NCFC91) January 27, 2021
Earlier this month, a sonic boom was reported over Cambridge, Hertfordshire, Essex and London.
It was caused when two jets were launched from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to intercept a private plane that had lost communications.
An RAF spokesperson said at the time: "The RAF can confirm Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this afternoon from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft that had lost communications; subsequently, communications were re-established, the aircraft was intercepted and safely escorted to Stansted.
"The Typhoon aircraft were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons."
One person tweeted: "Anyone just heard a loud bang in the Herts/Essex area just now, the office building felt like it had been hit? #sonicboom #explosion."
Another said: "The house shook and my ears are still hurting now. It was like an explosion had gone off."
A third added: "It made me jump. I thought at first it was a large bird flying headfirst into the front window.
"It made the house shake, I've never heard of a sonic boom before but it was really loud."