Sonic boom heard after RAF scrambled to incident

Helen BurchellBBC Information, EastGetty ImagesRAF Storm jets just like the one pictured have been known as to escort a civilian aircraftA sonic increase has been reported throughout elements of the East and South East of England.The loud bang was heard in Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Kent and elements of London at about 11:40 BST.The RAF confirmed three Fast Response Alert (QRA) Storm fighter plane from RAF Coningsby have been launched to escort a civilian aircraft that had misplaced contact with air site visitors management.A spokesperson mentioned: “Communications have been re-established and the plane was safely escorted to Stansted. The Typhoons are returning to base.”The sonic increase was recorded by safety cameras in EssexAn Essex Police spokesperson mentioned: “A flight has been escorted into Stansted Airport after it misplaced contact with the bottom.”Contact was re-established with the aircraft, which had been travelling from Good, and was escorted into the airport by RAF plane.”On the bottom, our officers decided there was nothing of concern.”A sonic increase happens when an plane travels quicker than the velocity of sound, producing shockwaves that quickly compress and decompress the air, producing an explosive noise.Whereas the velocity of sound varies relying on the altitude, it’s about 660mph (1,060km/h) at 60,000ft (18,300m).The sound, usually described as an explosion or thunderclap, will be heard over a big space as a result of it strikes with the aircraft, just like the wake of a ship spreading out behind a vessel.The increase has been broadly reported throughout social media.One particular person in Chelmsford in Essex mentioned: “It made the entire of the higher a part of the home shake.”A girl in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk mentioned it “rattled” her again door, whereas in north Kent one particular person described the way it “shook the entire home – we thought there had been an explosion”.In Burwell, Cambridgeshire, one other lady wrote: “Thought one thing blew up in my loft”.Conor KehoeConor Kehoe and Manisha Dev have been watching TV in Essex when the “home shook”Conor Kehoe, 33, was watching tv together with his fiancee Manisha Dev, 32, in Braintree once they heard “a really loud bang that shook the room”.He advised the BBC he initially thought his brother had fallen within the bathe however then they realised it was coming from exterior.”So, we went exterior and my neighbours have been popping out as effectively, questioning what it was,” he mentioned.”I may hear the jet itself and thought jets cannot do a sonic increase except it is overland – and except it is completely crucial.”It simply sounded one thing like a bowling ball touchdown in a shower – like a thunderous clap however very echoey.”Ms Dev, who was visiting from Singapore, mentioned: “I used to be actually shocked as a result of, I imply, I’ve by no means skilled that in Singapore, so I assumed it was like… a bomb.”Further reporting by James Kelly – BBC Confirm