Mysterious Boom at Jersey Shore Attributed to Military Aircraft Activity
Residents around Cape May reported a loud boom and shaking on Monday afternoon, but no earthquakes were confirmed. Speculation suggests a military aircraft, specifically a T-38 Talon, could be responsible. Local officials have not received notification from military commanders regarding the incident, leaving the cause of the disturbance unclear.
On Monday afternoon, residents of the Cape May area experienced a mysterious loud boom accompanied by notable shaking, although no earthquakes were reported by the government on the East Coast. Social media activity around 3 p.m. reflected numerous inquiries from individuals questioning the source of the disturbance. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed a lack of seismic activity in the region, including areas east of Oklahoma, in the preceding 24 hours.
The noise was reported across various locations, including Cape May, Cape May Courthouse, Villas, and Wildwood. Some residents even noted vibrations perceptible as far north as Lacey Township, with several reports citing multiple booms. Given the circumstances, potential causes of the incident were investigated.
One potential explanation for the disturbances could involve military aircraft. A flight tracking application, Flightradar24, indicated that a T-38 Talon was operating off the coast of Maryland and Delaware around the time residents reported the noise. Cape May Police Chief Dekon Fashaw acknowledged awareness of the situation; however, he noted that while jets frequently traverse the area from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, no notification was provided by military officials regarding specific operations.
In a related announcement, Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Virginia issued a noise warning for training activities scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. that same evening. Requests for commentary from Navy and Air Force officials were met with no immediate response. The T-38 Talon, noted for its supersonic capabilities, serves as a training aircraft utilized by both military branches in the cultivation of pilot skills, as outlined on the Air Force’s official website.
The loud boom experienced by residents in the Cape May area remains unexplained but is suspected to be associated with military aircraft operations, particularly a T-38 Talon training mission. Despite public curiosity and reports of multiple booms, official sources could not confirm the exact cause, and no seismic activity was documented during the timeframe of the incident. This event highlights the interconnectedness of military training activities with local communities.
Original Source: www.nj.com
