F-16 fighter jet causes sonic boom after racing toward crashed private Cessna that violated Capitol airspace
Residents across the Washington, DC area were left startled on Sunday afternoon when a sonic boom reverberated throughout the capital and surrounding communities. The explosive sound was a result of an F-16 fighter jet being scrambled from Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, to investigate the crash of a private Cessna aircraft in southwest Virginia.
The Cessna is believed to have flown into authorized airspace over the capital before crashing down in Virginia. While Washington’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency stated that “there is no threat at this time,” residents took to Twitter to share their experiences of feeling their homes shake and questioning the loud explosion.
Matt Cox, a local, tweeted, “It was loud enough to shake my f—king coffee table. Thank God there isn’t an infant in the house.” The uproar caused the hashtag #explosion to trend on Twitter as people shared their stories.
The Annapolis Office of Emergency Management eventually issued a statement to residents, explaining that the loud boom was caused by an authorized DOD (Department of Defense) flight heading to the scene of the crash in Virginia.
The Federal Aviation Administration is yet to confirm details about the Cessna that crashed. However, the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the incident.
FAQs:
What caused the sonic boom in the Washington, DC area?
The sonic boom was caused by an F-16 fighter jet racing toward the site of a private Cessna crash in southwest Virginia.
What was the reason behind the deployment of the F-16 fighter jet?
The fighter jet was scrambled from Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, to investigate a private Cessna aircraft that had flown into authorized airspace over the capital before crashing in Virginia.
Were there any casualties from the crash?
The Federal Aviation Administration is yet to confirm details about the Cessna crash.
What is a sonic boom?
A sonic boom is a loud, explosive sound that occurs when an aircraft breaks the sound barrier at 767 mph.
Private Cessna that violated Capitol airspace crashes; F-16 fighter jet races towards it and causes a sonic boom.
Hundreds of residents in Washington, DC, and surrounding communities were left startled on Sunday when a sonic boom from a military jet rang out across the National Capital Region. The boom occurred when an F-16 fighter jet was scrambled from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to investigate the crash of a private Cessna jet believed to be on autopilot. The crash occurred after the Cessna flew into authorized airspace over the capital before crashing down in southwest Virginia. Witnesses to the explosive sound took to Twitter, causing the hashtag #explosion to trend. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the crash.