Sonic boom compensation: Damaged fish tank and chandelier among settled claims

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has paid out nearly £10,000 in compensation as a result of sonic booms, including for a cracked fish tank and damaged chandelier.

The figures, released by the MOD in response to Freedom of Information request, show £9,754.77 was paid out in payments following 55 compensation claims made between March 2014 and January 2021.

Other claims made included cracked windows, dislodged roof tiles, a damaged freezer and a car accident where details include the description "startled by noise".

• What is a sonic boom?
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A sonic boom is created when an object travels at the speed of sound and, after a build up of pressure, a shockwave is released causing the sound heard during a sonic boom.

Watch: This sonic boom from an RAF aircraft was captured on a doorbell camera in east London in January 2021.

The MOD said whilst they can identify when an aircraft has been authorised to go supersonic, the aircrew may not necessarily know if they had created a shockwave.

The department also said military flying training rules do not routinely permit supersonic flight over land in the UK unless there is an "operational priority".

During training, planned supersonic flights are completed over the sea at a range to try and minimise disturbance.

Among the 55 compensation claims, 23 were settled, seven were rejected and 18 were not pursued by the claimant were closed.

Seven remained ongoing, the MOD said in March.