Mystery Sonic Boom Rattles Norfolk and Suffolk: What We Know

Unexplained Sonic Boom Startles East Anglia

A loud sonic boom startled residents across Norfolk and Suffolk, rattling windows and sparking fears of an explosion. The incident, which occurred on Monday, January 12, 2026, sent alarmed residents rushing into the streets and flooding social media with reports of their experiences.

People have described the sound of an explosion and buildings shaking during the event at about 16:30 GMT. Reports of the disturbance came from locations spanning Norwich to Ipswich, with alarmed locals taking to social media to share their experiences of the sudden, powerful sound.

What Is a Sonic Boom?

A sonic boom is produced when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound, creating shockwaves that rapidly compress and decompress the surrounding air. When those waves reach the ground, they are heard as a loud explosion-like bang, sometimes in two parts. Some witnesses reported hearing precisely this characteristic double boom, consistent with supersonic flight.

Source Remains Unconfirmed

The source of the suspected sonic boom remains unconfirmed – though witnesses reported hearing and seeing jets overhead at the time. The Ministry of Defence has clarified that no RAF aircraft were involved in the incident. The MoD spokesperson said: “I can confirm that there was no RAF Quick Reaction Alert today, which would have meant RAF Typhoons taking off from either RAF Lossiemouth or RAF Coningsby.”

It is thought that the aircraft involved could have been from the USAF, but the MoD does not comment on the air activity of other nations. The identity of the aircraft responsible has not been officially confirmed.

Public Reaction and Significance

The incident highlights how rare supersonic flights over populated areas have become. Supersonic flight over land is rare and only authorised in exceptional circumstances. Occasionally such flights are cleared as part of Operational Quick Reaction Alert missions in the defence of the United Kingdom. For residents unfamiliar with the phenomenon, the sudden, powerful noise understandably caused concern and confusion, demonstrating the impact such military activities can have on civilian populations even when conducted for legitimate security purposes.