F-16 fighter jets cause sonic boom after racing toward crashed private Cessna that violated Capitol airspace

A sonic boom from military jets racing toward a private aircraft that had crossed into restricted airspace startled hundreds in the Washington, DC area who heard the explosive sound on Sunday.

The boom rang out when F-16 fighter jets were scrambled from Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland to investigate the ---More...aircraft — which was unresponsive and flying — shortly after 3 p.m., according to the Department of Defense. Residents around the capital and surrounding communities were left bewildered.

???? JUST IN: A DC-area resident captured the “explosion” sound on his home camera.

We now know the “explosion” was a sonic boom caused by fighter jets scrambled to intercept an unresponsive Cessna Citation jet overflying DC, which later crashed.

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— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 4, 2023