Fighter jets scrambled over Washington DC as terrified local residents hear sonic boom

F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a civilian plane over Washington DC on Tuesday.

Local residents and office workers heard a sonic boom as the warplanes swooped to ensure the aircraft remained clear of restricted airspace at around 11.15am.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed the civilian plane was escorted out of the airspace without further incident.

The DC region is protected by one of the most tightly controlled airspace zones in the country, known as the Special Flight Rules Area.

It requires pilots to follow strict procedures and maintain constant communication with air traffic control to prevent unauthorized incursions within the 30-nautical-mile radius.

In June 2023, six F-16s were scrambled after a civilian Cessna became unresponsive and later crashed in Virginia, with a sonic boom heard across the region.

In such cases fighter jets are often scrambled from Joint Base Andrews, just outside Washington.