Sonic boom heard in Central Maryland was caused by NORAD jets pursuing ‘unresponsive aircraft’ that later crashed, officials say

A large boom that shook houses in the Annapolis area Sunday and was heard elsewhere in Maryland was caused by military fighter jets following an “unresponsive” aircraft that later crashed in Virginia, according to defense officials. The noise came from F-16 fighter aircraft that “were authorized to travel at supersonic speeds” as they pursued a civilian business jet over D.C. and Virginia after 3 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release from the North American Aerospace Defense Command.