Unexplained Boom Shakes Cape May, Not Linked to Earthquake

Residents in Cape May reported a loud boom and shaking on Monday, but there were no registered earthquakes in the area. The disturbances could stem from military aircraft, as a T-38 Talon jet was flying nearby, though officials have not confirmed any military activity. Reports are ongoing regarding the situation.

On Monday afternoon, residents near Cape May reported hearing a loud boom and feeling shaking, despite no recorded earthquakes by the government in the region. Social media posts began circulating around 3 p.m. asking if others experienced similar sensations, as tremors were noted in Cape May, Cape May Courthouse, Villas, and Wildwood. Some individuals felt the vibrations extending north to Lacey Township, with multiple booms reported by others.

The likely cause of the noise and tremors may be related to military aircraft operations. Flightradar24, a flight tracking application, indicated that a T-38 Talon training jet was active off the coast of Maryland and Delaware concurrently with the incidents. Cape May Police Chief Dekon Fashaw acknowledged local reports of the boom but stated that, while jets frequently fly from nearby Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, no military activity was communicated to local police.

Additionally, the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Virginia had issued a noise advisory for training operations slated from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the same day. Immediate responses from Navy and Air Force officials regarding the reports were not available. The T-38 Talon, a supersonic aircraft used by the Navy and Air Force for pilot training, plays a pivotal role in military aviation exercises.

In summary, the loud boom and shaking experienced by residents in Cape May were not linked to any seismic activity, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Instead, it is speculated that the disturbances were caused by military aircraft overhead, particularly a T-38 Talon jet. No official reports from the military were confirmed at the time, leaving the exact source of the noise unclear.

Original Source: www.nj.com