Loud bang this morning caused by RAF jets

A loud bang heard across north London, Hertfordshire and Essex was caused by RAF planes intercepting an unresponsive aircraft.

The sonic boom woke people and even shook houses at about 4.20am this morning (/November 1) according to Twitter users.

Two RAF Typhoon fighter jets had been granted permission to travel faster than the speed of sound as they were dispatched from Coningsby in Lincolnshire at about 4.10am to intercept an unresponsive aircraft.

An RAF spokeswoman said: "Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coningsby were scrambled this morning, as part of the UK's Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) procedures, after an aircraft lost communications in UK airspace.

"The aircraft was intercepted and its communications were subsequently re-established."

RAF jets are only given permission to go supersonic in emergencies.

Herts Police and the Met Police took tweeted to reassure residents woken by the bang.

We have taken a number of calls from people reporting a loud bang in parts of the county. We would like to reassure you we have not had reports of an explosion or any other incident which may have caused this.

— Herts Police (@HertsPolice) December 1, 2019

The loud bang heard throughout north London and surrounding areas was the result of a sonic boom from RAF planes. There is no cause for concern.

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) December 1, 2019

One Harrow resident tweeted a video of the moment the sonic boom heard.

Here’s audio from Harrow pic.twitter.com/jN6GbqFlh1

— Rakesh Khimji (@electrorax) December 1, 2019