A doorbell camera shows the exact moment a huge bang broke out across East London on Friday (August 15) due to a sonic boom. Homes were reportedly left ‘shaking’ by the noise at about 11.45am.
Residents in Homerton, Romford and Harold Hill all heard the ‘loud bang’ as well as households across South London plus Chelmsford EssexLive reports. There were also reports of it being heard in Cambridgeshire and Kent too.
Emergency services rushed to Stansted Airport after RAF jets escorted an aircraft to the major hub on Friday (August 15). People reported hearing a loud bang and explosion-like noise.
The RAF later confirmed that Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft had been launched from RAF Coningsby due to the incident. The sonic boom that people heard was caused by RAF Typhoons which were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons.
Stansted Airport said the private aircraft was escorted to the major transport hub. It landed safely, was met by the police and the incident has now been stood down. The airport is operating as normal.
An RAF spokesperson said: “‘We can confirm that RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft from RAF Coningsby were launched today to investigate a civilian aircraft which was not in contact with air traffic control, communications were re-established and the aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted. The Typhoons are returning to base.”
A spokesman for Essex Police said: “You may have heard a sonic boom over Essex in the last hour or so. A flight has been escorted into Stansted Airport after it lost contact with the ground.
“We were called at around 11.40am today (Friday 15 August). Contact was re-established with the plane, which had been travelling from Nice, and was escorted into the airport by RAF aircraft. On the ground our officers determined there was nothing of concern.”
An East of England Ambulance Service Trust spokesperson said: “We were alerted to a potential emergency with an incoming aeroplane at Stansted this morning and sent resources in line with our standard procedures. The plane landed safely and the incident was stood down.”
Stansted Airport said: “A private aircraft was escorted to London Stansted by an RAF Typhoon earlier today. It landed safely, was met by police, and the incident has now been stood down. The airport is operating as normal.”
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