Sonic Boom Heard in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia as F-16 Jet Scrambled and Private Jet Crashes
The Washington DC metropolitan area was rocked by a massive sonic boom today, causing panic and confusion among residents in Maryland and Virginia. The source of the explosion was revealed to be an F-16 jet that was scrambled by the US military to intercept a private jet that had violated nearby airspace.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) confirmed that the fighter jet was authorized to travel at supersonic speeds in order to intercept the rogue plane, which was unresponsive to radio transmissions. The F-16 used flares in an attempt to draw attention from the pilot of the Cessna Citation private jet, but tragically, the plane crashed into a mountainous region in southwest Virginia.
The private jet was registered to Encore Motors of Melbourne Inc., owned by John Rumpel, a prominent MAGA donor. The plane was carrying Rumpel’s daughter, granddaughter, her nanny, and the pilot, who were returning home to Long Island after visiting North Carolina. Unfortunately, no survivors were found at the crash site.
Authorities confirmed that the loud boom heard across the region was caused by the authorized DOD flight and reassured the public that there was no threat. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also confirmed the crash of the Cessna Citation in a sparsely populated area of southwest Virginia.
Residents in the affected areas reported feeling their houses shake and hearing loud booms, with some mistaking the sound for a truck hitting their homes. The City of Annapolis and Prince George’s County Police Department confirmed that the sonic boom was a result of a plane out of Joint Base Andrews conducting air defense drills.
As search and rescue teams continue to scour the crash site for any survivors, the community mourns the loss of those aboard the ill-fated private jet. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in aviation and the importance of maintaining airspace security.
