US Air Force apologises after sparking panic with 'double bang' over East Anglia

The US Air Force has apologised after triggering a sonic boom that startled communities across East Anglia.

An American jet inadvertently exceeded the speed of sound over Cambridgeshire and Norfolk last Thursday.

The incident occurred shortly before 3pm on May 7 when a US Air Force F-15E fighter aircraft broke the sound barrier during what was described as routine training exercises.

Residents across the region reported hearing a loud double bang that reverberated through the skies above Wisbech and surrounding areas.

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The 48th Fighter Wing operates from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.

A spokesman said: "A US Air Force F-15E pilot inadvertently reached supersonic speed during routine training.

"We apologise for any disturbance this may have caused residents, and we appreciate the community's patience and support as we conduct essential training to maintain the highest levels of readiness for our collective defence."

Such occurrences over British land are uncommon as supersonic flight is typically permitted only under exceptional circumstances.

The shockwave's intensity left many Wisbech residents fearing for their safety, with some convinced an object had struck their rooftops or that their windows were about to shatter.

Social media posts in local Facebook groups captured the alarm.

Locals describing how they "jumped out their seats" when the mysterious double bang echoed overhead.

Several residents admitted the noise sent them into a panic, prompting them to rush indoors for shelter.

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One woman likened the sound to a "large explosion" and questioned whether police had been notified.

Another resident wrote: "I nearly s**t myself."

While some locals speculated the disturbance was a sonic boom, others remained unconvinced, arguing the sound did not match what they would typically expect from such an event.

The 48th Fighter Wing addressed the incident in a statement, with a spokesperson explaining: "A US Air Force F-15E pilot inadvertently reached supersonic speed during routine training."

The military unit expressed regret for the disruption caused to local communities.

The spokesman added: "We apologise for any disturbance this may have caused residents, and we appreciate the community's patience and support as we conduct essential training to maintain the highest levels of readiness for our collective defence."

Sonic booms are produced when aircraft travel faster than sound, creating shockwaves that cause rapid compression and decompression of the surrounding air.

Flying at supersonic speeds over land remains rare in the UK, with such manoeuvres sanctioned only in exceptional circumstances.

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