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Sonic boom over Norfolk and Suffolk caused by RAF Typhoons sent to help Ryanair plane
A sonic boom was heard over East Anglia this morning (Picture: Andy Longhust/submitted) - Credit: Archant
A sonic boom which was heard across Norfolk and Suffolk this morning was caused by RAF Typhoon aircraft scrambled to help a passenger plane.
The track on FlightRadar24 of Ryanair flight FR2145, flying from Lithuania to Luton, which has been escorted into Stansted Airport by RAF jets (Picture: FlightRadar24/PA Wire) - Credit: PA
People in the region took to social media in their droves to find out what caused a loud bang at 8.40am this morning.
Windows shook and people took to the streets after the boom, which was heard far and wide including in Thetford, Diss, Stowmarket, Ipswich and Woodbridge.
MORE - Did you hear the 'sonic boom' over Norfolk and Suffolk?
Fighter jests escorted a Ryanair flight into Stansted Airport this morning (Picture: Andy Longhurst/submitted) - Credit: Archant
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The sonic boom was caused by the RAF's Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft which were launched from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, to assist a Ryanair flight.
An RAF spokesman said: 'The aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted Airport. The Typhoon aircraft were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons; any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.'
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Essex Police said the flight from Kaunas, Lithuania, was on its way to Luton Airport but was diverted following reports of a security alert.
Police officers by the Ryanair plane, that was from Lithuania to Luton, at Stansted airport where it was escorted into by RAF jets (Picture: @zulu_wooloo/PA Wire) - Credit: PA
A Ryanair spokesman said: 'This flight from Kaunas to London Luton diverted to London Stansted in line with procedures after Lithuanian authorities received a suspected hoax security alert.
'The aircraft landed normally at Stansted and customers will be transferred to Luton by coach when cleared to do so.'
The plane landed safely at around 8.55am.
Both Norfolk and Suffolk police tweeted to say they had received numerous calls from concerned residents such was the noise made by the jets.
Bea Ives wrote on Twitter: 'So people in Norfolk myself included hearing the large booms. My house has shook twice, very loud thuds.'
While Samantha Franks said: 'Sonic boom this morning? Shook the house and birds went crazy. Heard from Norfolk border near Diss.'
What is a sonic boom?
A sonic boom is a sound that occurs due to shock waves created by an object travelling through the air at a rate faster than the speed of sound.
Sonic booms often sound like an explosion to the human ear, due to the amount of sound energy generated.
