Panicked members of the public in northern England took to social networks on Tuesday evening after loud, house-shaking bangs were heard at around 10pm.
Any one in Leeds just hear/feel that huge explosion? #Leeds #Explosion?
— Rhea Bailey (@rhea_bailey) 2 мая 2016 г.
Did anyone else feel that loud bang noise in Leeds? Felt like the house shook! Thought it was an explosion or something had hit the house!
— Victoria Elizabeth (@_Vic_Elizabeth_) 2 мая 2016 г.
Two HUGE explosions or bomb sounds Leeds. Scared? What was that?
— Em Sheldon (@emshelx) 2 мая 2016 г.
The moment of the 1st Yorkshire Sonic Boom tonight captured on our CCTV #SonicBoom pic.twitter.com/jjkTaR7Vvn
— Paul Griffiths (@GriffoRadio) 2 мая 2016 г.
Air France flight 1558 was on its way to Newcastle Airport when it went off course, causing the typhoons to intercept and guide it to a safe landing.
.@RoyalAirForce Typhoon aircraft scrambled for QRA this evening. Statement here: pic.twitter.com/oER1Wi4JQV
— Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) 2 мая 2016 г.
@rsmck Air France confirms that due to a radio communication problem AF 1558 had to be accompanied by two British fighter aircrafts 1/2
— Air France UK (@AirFranceUK) 2 мая 2016 г.
Typhoon intercepting and escorting #AF1158 into #Newcastle tonight after loosing radio comms. #QRA pic.twitter.com/gYr7qgkOOT
— Mark (@Mark_Aviation) 2 мая 2016 г.
A sonic boom is the thunder-like noise a person on the ground hears when an aircraft flies overhead faster than the speed of sound.
The cone spreads across the landscape along the flight path; after the initial buildup there is a sharp release of air pressure, and this change in pressure is heard as the aircraft's sonic boom.