F-7P crosses sound barrier: It was sonic boom, not bomb: Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: An F-7P fighter aircraft of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Monday crossed the sound barrier, causing a big sonic boom and creating panic in the twin cities and other areas where it was heard loudly.

The boom was heard at 11am not only in the twin cities but also in Chakwal, Attock, Kahuta, Gujar Khan, Kallar Syedian, Murree and some parts of Kashmir.

The aircraft was on a scheduled Functional Control Flight Mission when it transited from 40,000 feet to 15,000 feet altitude, resulting into a mega sonic boom. The boom wave travelled fast from the higher altitude to adjacent areas, it said.

At first, it was mistaken for a bomb blast, fears of which grew stronger from the fact that the garrison town has been a target of suicide attacks for quite some time.

"We have combed Rawalpindi and checked all the main areas and hospitals, but there is nothing," a senior city police official told Reuters about 45 minutes after the sonic boom was heard.

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