Sonic boom from fighter jet startles nation’s capital

A loud boom that shook the Washington, D.C., region Sunday was caused by an authorized Defense Department flight that created a sonic boom, officials said. 

"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," Maryland's Annapolis Emergency Management Office tweeted.

There is no threat to the region at this time, the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency said.

The loud explosion-like sound was heard in Virginia, D.C. and Maryland. 

Multiple people online said they felt their homes shake from the boom, but the reports are unconfirmed.

The U.S. Air Force says sonic boom intensity and width depends on the characteristics of the aircraft and how it is being operated.

"Ground width of the boom exposure area is approximately one mile for each 1,000 feet of altitude; that is, an aircraft flying supersonic at 30,000 feet will create a lateral boom spread of about 30 miles," the agency said.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.