Navy Confirms Test Flights When Noises Heard

An F-35C operating out of Patuxent River Naval Air Station is likely the cause of a series of sonic booms reported from New Jersey residents last week.

"Today, an F-35C from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD was conducting supersonic testing in a cleared military flight area off the East Coast around 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.," the Navy said in a release.

Residents along the Jersey Shore began reporting the booms on social media about 1330 local time Thursday, according to nj.com. The theories of an earthquake of seismic testing offshore were quickly discounted, according to the report.

The military initially denied that it was the source of the disturbance, but later admitted in the statement that the test plane had crossed the sound barrier. "The test wing is critical to the safe test and evaluation of all types of Navy and Marine Corps aircraft in service and in development and is primarily based out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD," the statement said. "Other military aircraft, including both Navy and Air Force, also frequently use the ranges for testing and training."

"Test aircraft from the Naval Air Station execute supersonic flights almost daily in the test track, and most of these sonic booms are never felt on land," the Navy said. "However, under certain atmospheric conditions there is an increased potential to hear the sound."

(Image from file)

FMI: www.navy.mil