Sonic Boom identified as loud boom heard across Central IL Tuesday

Posted on December 21, 2021
(Facebook/Photo Courtesy of Associated Press)

By Jake Fogal

At approximately 11:20 a-m, area residents heard a large noise, accompanied by mild shaking in some areas. Illinois Emergency Management Agency spokesperson Rebecca Clark explains what that loud boom heard across Central Illinois was.

“Upon further review, it was determine that an F-15 fighter jet in the air space of up Central Illinois course corrected, creating a sonic boom,” Clark said. “When the air craft broke the sound barrier, the pressure wave created an audible noise and minor shaking in our region.”

Clark says that earth shaking sound kicked off an immediate collaboration between federal, state and local officials in an effort to identify the source of the incident.

At this time, there are no reports of damage associated with the incident.

Jake Fogal can be reached at [email protected].

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