Mysterious Boom Shakes Cape May Area, Not Linked to Earthquake

Residents near Cape May reported a loud boom and vibrations on Monday afternoon, which was not linked to an earthquake. Speculation suggests military aircraft may be the source, as a T-38 Talon was operating off the coast at the time, although police received no reports from the military.

On Monday afternoon, residents in the Cape May area experienced a loud boom accompanied by ground vibrations. This phenomenon stirred discussions on social media, with inquiries emerging around 3 p.m. regarding the source of the disturbance. Notably, the U.S. Geological Survey reported no seismic activity in the East Coast region, particularly east of Oklahoma.

The audible noise and felt tremors were reported in various locations including Cape May, Cape May Courthouse, Villas, and Wildwood. Accounts indicate that vibrations were noticed as far north as Lacey Township, with some individuals describing multiple booms.

The cause of the noise is speculated to be linked to military aircraft activity. The flight tracking tool Flightradar24 indicated a T-38 Talon aircraft was operating off the coast of Maryland and Delaware during the time the disturbances occurred.

Cape May Police Chief Dekon Fashaw acknowledged awareness of the loud boom and clarified that while military jets frequently pass over the area from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, no formal reports had been made to local law enforcement by military personnel.

Additionally, the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Virginia announced a noise advisory for military training operations anticipated from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on that day. Responses from Navy and Air Force officials regarding the incident were not immediately available.

In summary, residents of the Cape May area experienced a mysterious boom that was not attributed to seismic activity, with speculations linking it to military aircraft. While the T-38 Talon aircraft was flying nearby, local officials received no prior notice from military sources regarding the disturbances. Further insights from military representatives remain pending.

Original Source: www.nj.com