Leicester residents left bewildered after mysterious loud explosion or sonic boom heard overhead
Many in and around Leicestershire and Northamptonshire were left puzzled after hearing a loud explosion or sonic boom overhead.
Police have now confirmed the noise was caused when a plane that lost communication because of a malfunction was escorted to safety by RAF jets, police have said.
Some on social media have suggested the loud noise could be heard from as far away as Oxford.
Locals reported hearing the blast just after 12.15pm on Saturday 4 March.
Twitter user Dr Jon Suttong said: "Massive boom heard over a wide area of Leicestershire. Aircraft or meteor?"
One person living in North Leicester said the loud noise "rocked the house".
Footage capturing the moment of the "sonic boom" or "loud bang" in Leicester
Aarondeep Mann, 22, heard the bang in Houghton-on-the-Hill, Leicestershire, and said his first thought was it may have been a gas explosion.
“It was the most random, loud thing we’ve ever heard as we were clearing the boot of the car out,” Mr Mann, a practice manager, said.
“First thoughts were that it could be a gas pipe explosion.
“All the neighbours came out as the houses were practically shaking.”
Another person tweeted: "Anyone in Leicester know what the hell that massive explosion was?
"It shook our house and the birds are going crazy."
Tweet featuring another clip of the moment the sonic boom hit
The explosion was also felt in North Oxfordshire, where a person described it as a "massive bang", as well as in Northampton.
A person living near RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire also reported hearing the loud bang.
According to Aviation Highlights, "RAF Typhoons scrambled to intercept this Dash 8 aircraft which experienced radio failure and was heading to London."
The tweet added: "The fighters were reportedly supersonic on their way south from RAF Coningsby. #sonicboom#QRA#fighterjet".
Now Essex Police have confirmed the noise was caused when a flight was diverted to Stansted Airport after communications with the pilot had been lost.
The plane, which had been flying from Iceland to Nairobi via Southend was escorted to the airport by RAF jets and landed shortly before 12.50pm today (Saturday 4 March).
Two people - a pilot and co-pilot – were on board. Officers engaged with them and carried out enquiries are satisfied there was a loss of contact due to an equipment malfunction and nothing of any concern.
The plane and those on board have now been released to continue their journey.
Tweeting about the incident shortly after it took place, Leicestershire Police said: "We have received numerous calls in relation to a large explosion sound heard from various parts of the city and county.
"We like to reassure you that there is no concern however thank you for your immediate response to us."
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that Typhoon fighter jets were sent from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to help the aircraft.
A spokesman said: “Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby offered assistance to a civilian aircraft and were authorised to fly supersonic.”
The MoD said it always has jets under a “quick reaction alert” which respond to any aircraft that cannot be identified or is not communicating with either civilian or military air traffic control.
Typhoon fighter squadrons are positioned at RAF Coningsby, RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and in the Falkland Islands.
A sonic boom is caused when planes fly faster than the speed of sound, which at ground level is around 761mph.
When travelling at this speed, also known as Mach 1, the aircraft displaces the air and creates pressure waves that become compressed and then released in a shock wave.
As long as the aircraft is flying at Mach 1 it will generate continuous sound waves, known as a boom carpet.
An aircraft flying at 20,000 feet would create a sonic boom cone 20 miles wide.
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