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  "path": "/news/east-anglia-news-us-air-force-apologises",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-12T08:30:06.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Army veteran who served 22 years and 'can hardly run around the block' to take on Great North Run",
    "MoD accused of 'callous disregard' after Chinook families' information released in 'serious failure'",
    "British soldier jailed for leaking military secrets to Iran now working as salsa teacher in Brighton",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nThe US Air Force has apologised after triggering a sonic boom that startled communities across East Anglia.\n\nAn American jet inadvertently exceeded the speed of sound over Cambridgeshire and Norfolk last Thursday.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe incident occurred shortly before 3pm on May 7 when a US Air Force F-15E fighter aircraft broke the sound barrier during what was described as routine training exercises.\n\nResidents across the region reported hearing a loud double bang that reverberated through the skies above Wisbech and surrounding areas.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe 48th Fighter Wing operates from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk.\n\nA spokesman said: \"A US Air Force F-15E pilot inadvertently reached supersonic speed during routine training.\n\n\"We apologise for any disturbance this may have caused residents, and we appreciate the community's patience and support as we conduct essential training to maintain the highest levels of readiness for our collective defence.\"\n\nSuch occurrences over British land are uncommon as supersonic flight is typically permitted only under exceptional circumstances.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe shockwave's intensity left many Wisbech residents fearing for their safety, with some convinced an object had struck their rooftops or that their windows were about to shatter.\n\nSocial media posts in local Facebook groups captured the alarm.\n\nLocals describing how they \"jumped out their seats\" when the mysterious double bang echoed overhead.\n\nSeveral residents admitted the noise sent them into a panic, prompting them to rush indoors for shelter.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Army veteran who served 22 years and 'can hardly run around the block' to take on Great North Run\n  * MoD accused of 'callous disregard' after Chinook families' information released in 'serious failure'\n  * British soldier jailed for leaking military secrets to Iran now working as salsa teacher in Brighton\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nOne woman likened the sound to a \"large explosion\" and questioned whether police had been notified.\n\nAnother resident wrote: \"I nearly s**t myself.\"\n\nWhile some locals speculated the disturbance was a sonic boom, others remained unconvinced, arguing the sound did not match what they would typically expect from such an event.\n\nThe 48th Fighter Wing addressed the incident in a statement, with a spokesperson explaining: \"A US Air Force F-15E pilot inadvertently reached supersonic speed during routine training.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe military unit expressed regret for the disruption caused to local communities.\n\nThe spokesman added: \"We apologise for any disturbance this may have caused residents, and we appreciate the community's patience and support as we conduct essential training to maintain the highest levels of readiness for our collective defence.\"\n\nSonic booms are produced when aircraft travel faster than sound, creating shockwaves that cause rapid compression and decompression of the surrounding air.\n\nFlying at supersonic speeds over land remains rare in the UK, with such manoeuvres sanctioned only in exceptional circumstances.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "US Air Force apologises after sparking panic with 'double bang' over East Anglia"
}