Thurrock residents startled by sound of sonic boom
RESIDENTS all over the east of England were startled to hear a large boom noise at lunchtime.
From Kings Lynn to Kent, people have taken to social media to ask what was that noise that shook the teacups on Tuesday morning.
Sources have suggested it might have been a RAF Typhoon travelling over the area.
A RAF spokesman said: “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.
BBC News
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image copyrightMinistry of Defence
image captionRAF Typhoons, similar to the aircraft pictured, took off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and escorted the civilian aircraft to London Stansted Airport
A sonic boom has been heard across the East of England after RAF Typhoon aircraft were launched to intercept a plane that had lost communications.
The Typhoons took off from RAF Coningsby and safely escorted the civilian aircraft to Stansted Airport in Essex, an RAF spokesman said.
The boom, at about 13:05 GMT, was reported by people across social media. The Typhoon aircraft were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons, the RAF said.