Washington explosion heard as 'US Air National Guard' sonic boom leaves windows rattling

As the US military conducted air defence drills, the sound of a huge explosion was heard in the area surrounding Washington DC, according to reports.

The City of Annapolis Office of Emergency Management said an authorised Department of Defence flight caused the sound. It was heard just after 8pm local time and registered as a 'seismic-like event'.

As reported by the Mirror, residents in nearby Maryland and Virginia all reported hearing a large explosion - which sparked panic.

The authority said: "The loud boom that was heard across the DMV area was caused by an authorized DOD flight. This flight caused a sonic boom."

The plane departed from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the home of Air Force One. Residents in both Annapolis and Dale City, Virginia, which are around 60 miles apart, reported a strange sound.

'There is no threat at this time,' officials said (Twitter)

A spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security said: "We are aware of reports from communities throughout the National Capital Region of a loud “boom” this afternoon. There is no threat at this time."

The city of Bowie, Maryland, added: "We have confirmed that the loud boom heard in Bowie was a sonic boom from a plane out of Joint Base Andrews."

Prince George's County Police Department also confirmed they were told it was an exercise.

Journalist Andrew Leyden claimed on Twitter that the DC Air National Guard had been conducting air defence drills over the Chesapeake Bay and was cleared to go supersonic during an alert scramble exercise.

Tom Lynch, an NBC reporter, said terrified residents rang 911 in a huge panic after the sound made windows rattle and alarms blare.

Reports indicate police were forced to call the Federal Aviation Administration to find out more.

One Twitter user wrote: "Anyone else in Annapolis hear a big boom and then their house shake?"

"Something big just went boom in Manassas, VA," another person added.

One person in the American capital even said they though a truck had hit their house.

They said: "Felt in in the eastern DC suburbs. Thought a truck hit my house."

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