This archive report was first published on 1 December 2019.
On December 1, 2019, at around 4:20 am, a loud noise shook homes in London and the surrounding Home Counties, leaving many residents wondering if it was an explosion.
However, the Metropolitan Police Service later confirmed that the noise was caused by a sonic boom from RAF Typhoon fighter jets that were scrambled to intercept a Boeing 767-300 after the plane lost communication.
A Met Police spokesperson assured the public that there was no cause for concern.
Residents in Cambridge, Hertfordshire, and across North London reported hearing the loud bang, with some taking to social media to share their experiences.
According to Hertfordshire Fire Control, they received a large number of calls from across the county regarding a large explosion sound.
As the noise was caused by a sonic boom, it is not surprising that it was heard over a wide area, including East Herts and London.
A sonic boom is the noise created by the shock waves produced when a flying object travels faster than the speed of sound, which is approximately 767mph at sea level.
