Washington DC 'Sonic Boom' Caused by US Fighter Jets: What Happened?

In a recent incident that sent shockwaves throughout the Washington DC metroplex area, a loud explosion sound reverberated across vast regions stretching as far east as the Eastern Shore of Maryland and as far west as Manassas, Virginia, according to Fox News.

The cause behind this tumultuous disturbance can be traced back to a captivating chase involving two US fighter jets desperately pursuing a Cessna aircraft with an unresponsive pilot.

The resonating boom that startled residents on that fateful Sunday was attributed to a Department of Defense (DOD) flight that had been granted authorization, according to the Office of Emergency Management in Annapolis.

The DOD flight is responsible for the resounding boom that echoed throughout the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) region, as unveiled by the office.

Although details remain scarce, it is confirmed that this flight generated a sonic boom, leaving a trail of astonishment in its wake.

Bowie, Maryland, officials have corroborated these findings, confirming that the deafening sonic boom reported was indeed caused by a jet aircraft from Joint Base Andrews.

Cessna Aircraft Chased by 2 US Jet Fighters Crashes

During the same period when the resounding sonic boom shook Washington DC, a distressing incident unfolded in southwest Virginia as a Cessna aircraft tragically crashed into treacherous terrain, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) disclosed, per Reuters.

A US official has categorically stated that the jet fighters involved in the earlier chase were not responsible for the crash.

The details surrounding the incident come to light through insights provided by a source familiar with the matter, revealing that the Cessna aircraft was believed to have been operating on autopilot and failed to respond to authorities' attempts at communication.

According to reports, the ill-fated Cessna carried four individuals on board, further underscoring the human tragedy.

In response to the incident, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) released a statement acknowledging that the US military diligently tried to establish contact with the unresponsive pilot until the Cessna ultimately met its fate near the George Washington National Forest in Virginia.

"The NORAD aircraft were authorized to travel at supersonic speeds, and residents may have heard a sonic boom of the region," the statement said, adding that NORAD planes also used flares to get the pilot's attention.

The Cessna aircraft depart from Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Elizabethton, Tennessee, going to Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York, situated approximately 50 miles (80 km) east of Manhattan, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) statement.

Additionally, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have committed to launching a thorough investigation into the incident, aiming to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the tragic occurrence.

The aircraft crashed around 3:30 pm EDT, said FAA.

Washington DC Sonic Boom Scared Many Residents

The sonic boom that thundered through the Washington region left a trail of apprehension among numerous residents who took to Twitter to share their accounts of the momentous event.

Startled by a tremendous boom that seemed to shake the ground beneath them, locals described the unnerving experience, noting how walls quivered in response to the consequential sonic disruption.

Reports of the deafening roar poured in from Maryland and northern Virginia, amplifying the reach of this unsettling occurrence.

One eyewitness, Erica Petacchi, took to Twitter to recount her firsthand encounter with the explosive sound. Having just stepped out of her car, she was startled by the sudden blast, according to Telegraph.

"It's like nothing I've experienced before," she tweeted. "I thought it was a large gas explosion nearby."

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden's activities for the day included a round of golf at Joint Base Andrews, situated approximately 15 miles away from the White House.

Interestingly, despite the noticeable impact of the sonic boom, the President appeared unaffected as he made his way back to the White House at 4:01 pm, approximately 30 minutes after the initial alert.

It remains unclear whether he heard the sonic boom.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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