Mysterious ‘boom’ was no more than ripple from supersonic jet
Defence tweet says it was caused by IAF test flight
BENGALURU:
The mystery ‘boom’ that had many Bengalureans in a tizzy in Wednesday was decoded later the same day — the Ministry of Defence clarified that it was the sonic ripple caused by a supersonic jet.
A tweet on Wednesday night from @prodef_blr, PRO Bengaluru, Ministry of Defence, said: “#Update, It was a routine IAF Test Flight involving a supersonic profile which took off from Bluru Airport and flew in the allotted airspace well outside City limits. The aircraft was of Aircraft Systems and Testing Establishment (ASTE)
whose Test Pilots & Flight Test Engineers routinely test out all aeroplanes. The sonic boom was probably heard while the aircraft was decelerating from supersonic to subsonic speed between 36,000 and 40,000 feet altitude,”
The tweet added:”The aircraft was far away from the city limits when this occurred. The sound of a sonic boom can be heard and felt by an observer even when the aircraft is flying as far away as 65 to 80 kilometres from the person.”
#Update
— PRO Bengaluru, Ministry of Defence (@Prodef_blr) May 20, 2020
It was a routine IAF Test Flight involving a supersonic profile which took off from Bluru Airport and flew in the allotted airspace well outside City limits. The aircraft was of Aircraft Systems and Testing Establishment (ASTE) @IAF_MCC @SpokespersonMoD
whose Test Pilots & Flight Test Engineers routinely test out all aeroplanes. The sonic boom was probably heard while the aircraft was decelerating from supersonic to subsonic speed between 36,000 and 40000 feet altitude.
— PRO Bengaluru, Ministry of Defence (@Prodef_blr) May 20, 2020
Earlier in the day, some residents said they heard a thunderous noise at around 1.45 pm, while others felt their windows rattle for a few seconds.
The sound was heard in many places, including Electronics City, Bannerghatta Road, Banashankari, Koramangala, HAL, ISRO Layout, Banashankari, Ramamurthy Nagar, Old Madras Road, Ulsoor, Kundanahalli, Kammanahalli, CV Raman Nagar, Whitefield and HSR Layout.
Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) Director Srinivas Reddy tweeted: “The activity reported in Bengaluru is not due to an earthquake. The seismometers did not capture any ground vibration as generally happens during a mild tremor. The activity is purely a loud unknown noise.”
The activity reported in Bengaluru is not due to an Earthquake. The Seismometers did not capture any Ground Vibration as generally happens during a mild Tremor. The activity is purely a loud unknown noise.
— KSNDMC (@KarnatakaSNDMC) May 20, 2020
City police commissioner Bhaskar Rao said, “No damage reported anywhere. We also got information that the sound was heard from the international airport to Hebbagodi. No calls to 100 till now of any damage. We have also asked the Air Force Control Room to check if this was a flight or supersonic sound.”
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