White House explains D.C. sonic boom, says F-16s intercepted unresponsive plane

The White House on Monday explained the sonic boom that D.C.-area residents heard on Sunday, saying that the military had scrambled six F-16 jets to intercept a private plane.

The aircraft had entered restricted airspace near the capital city while travelling from Elizabethton, Tenn., to Long Island, according to The Hill. The plane ultimately turned and crashed in rural Virginia.

White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the six F-16s had mobilized from various airbases, with two from Joint Base Andrews arriving first to the scene.

"They had to turn on the speed to get to them, which is why people here in the District area heard a sonic boom," Kirby said. "They had to break the sound barrier to get up to speed to get to the aircraft in question."

A sonic boom occurs when an aircraft (or other object) exceeds the speed of sound, which is roughly 767.27 miles per hour.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.