Fighter jet triggers sonic boom, rattles central Illinois communities

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Central Illinois police stations were flooded with calls after a military F-15 fighter jet flying over the region on Tuesday triggered a sonic boom.

"When the aircraft broke the sound barrier, the pressure wave created an audible noise and minor shaking in the region," Illinois Emergency Management explained in a press release.

Sonic booms are created by shock waves when a jet flies greater than the speed of sound. The speed of sound is 761.2 mph.

Residents across several counties in central Illinois including Sangamon County and Greene County reported “a large noise and shaking" around 11:20 a.m. CST Tuesday.

There were no reports of damage in the area.

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