A loud boom was heard across the Washington, D.C., area Sunday afternoon, but officials have stated that there is no threat to the public.
The Annapolis Office of Emergency Management said the sound was the result of an “authorized” Department of Defense flight causing a “sonic boom.”
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“The loud boom that was heard across the DMV area was caused by an authorized DOD flight. This flight caused a sonic boom. That is all the information available at this time,” the Annapolis Office of Emergency Management tweeted.
A spokesperson for US Northern Command told the Washington Examiner that a “NORAD F-16 fighter aircraft responded to an unresponsive Cessna 560 Citation V aircraft over Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia” on Saturday.
The loud boom that was heard across the DMV area was caused by an authorized DOD flight. This flight caused a sonic boom. That is all the information available at this time.
— Annapolis OEM (@AnnapolisOEM) June 4, 2023
“The NORAD aircraft were authorized to travel at supersonic speeds and a sonic boom may have been heard by residents of the region,” the statement read. “During this event, the NORAD aircraft also used flares — which may have been visible to the public — in an attempt to draw attention from the pilot. Flares are employed with highest regard for safety of the intercepted aircraft and people on the ground. Flares burn out quickly and completely and there is no danger to the people on the ground when dispensed.”
The statement added that the civilian aircraft was intercepted at around 3:20 p.m. EST, at which point the pilot was found “unresponsive and the Cessna subsequently crashed near the George Washington National Forest, Virginia. NORAD attempted to establish contact with the pilot until the aircraft crashed.”
6/4 (3:32PM): We are aware of reports from communities throughout the National Capital Region of a loud “boom” this afternoon. There is no threat at this time.
— DC Homeland Security & Emergency Management (@DC_HSEMA) June 4, 2023
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The DC Homeland Security & Emergency Management also said Sunday afternoon that the sound was not any “threat” to the public at this time.
“We are aware of reports from communities throughout the National Capital Region of a loud “boom” this afternoon. There is no threat at this time,” the agency said.
