What Exactly Is A Sonic Boom That Terrified Jodhpur Residents And How Is It Created?

On Tuesday night in Jodhpur, a loud explosion-like sound accompanied by a slight tremor caused panic among residents. The Indian Air Force later clarified that the sound was a sonic boom created by a fighter jet flying at supersonic speed. In this context, News18 examines what a sonic boom is, how it’s produced, and why similar loud sounds have been reported across cities from Bengaluru to Jodhpur. Such sounds are extremely loud and can be frightening, resembling a large explosion. They are usually associated with fighter jets of the Air Force. When these jets fly faster than Mach 1, a sonic boom occurs. Essentially, when an object moves faster than the speed of sound, it generates a sonic boom. This phenomenon often leads to public concern, prompting the Air Force to quickly clarify the situation. Typically, a sonic boom is heard when an aircraft transitions from supersonic to subsonic speeds, usually at altitudes between 36,000 and 40,000 feet. What Is A Sonic Boom? When an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound, it is termed supersonic speed. For example, if an object moves faster than 332 meters per second, it is considered supersonic. For aircraft, speeds over 1,225 kilometres per hour produce a sonic boom. An aircraft creates sound waves as it moves through the air. There are no issues as long as its speed is below the speed of sound. However, once it surpasses this speed, an explosion-like sound is generated. Can Passenger Planes Create Sonic Booms? Any aircraft flying faster than the speed of sound can create a sonic boom. However, fighter jets are more commonly associated with sonic booms as they are designed for supersonic speeds, which are often required for their missions. Commercial passenger planes, such as Boeing and Airbus, usually do not create sonic booms, as they are designed to fly at subsonic speeds, typically between Mach 0.78 and 0.85, for fuel efficiency and safety. How Different Countries Regulate Sonic Booms Supersonic flights are banned over populated areas worldwide due to the loud and disturbing nature of sonic booms, which can break windows and cause structural damage. In India, sonic booms caused by fighter jets are generally not considered a violation of rules if they occur in controlled and necessary situations. However, under DGCA rules, supersonic flights over populated areas are typically banned to prevent potential problems and damage. Does A Sonic Boom Affect The Pilot Too? Loud sounds can cause hearing problems, stress, and concentration difficulties. However, modern aircraft are robust enough that sonic booms do not directly cause structural damage. Instances Of Sonic Booms In India Bengaluru: Sonic boom-like sounds are often heard, especially during IAF test flights, with notable occurrences in May 2020 and July 2021. Amritsar: Near the Pakistan border, sonic booms are frequently reported during Indian Air Force exercises. Jodhpur: On the night of November 11, 2025, loud explosion-like sounds and tremors were reported during Air Force training flights. Dehradun: Reports of buildings shaking and windows cracking due to loud sounds have been attributed to sonic booms. Saurashtra Region: In 2004, ‘blast’-like sounds were heard in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region, later linked to sonic booms from overflying jets. Ludhiana: Loud explosion-like sounds were connected to fighter jets near Halwara Air Force Station. Tirupur: A mysterious loud sound heard in 2020 was said to be a sonic boom from a Tejas aircraft. These events usually occur when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound (Mach 1), creating a powerful shock wave that produces a loud explosion-like sound on the ground. How Sonic Booms Once Led To Building Collapses In Israel In 1966-67, sonic booms created by Israeli Air Force jets caused the collapse of walls in about 70 buildings and broke numerous windows. Similarly, during the 1960s, tests of the US Air Force’s YF-12 jets resulted in broken windows and some structural damage, leading to multiple lawsuits against the Air Force. Supersonic Flights Milestones In 1947, US Army pilot Chuck Yeager became the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound in the Bell X-1 aircraft. Since then, many supersonic flights have broken the sound barrier, with some advanced aircraft now flying at three times the speed of sound. According to the Indian Air Force website, India’s fastest jets are the Sukhoi 30MKI and Mirage-2000.