A sonic boom which shook huge areas of Suffolk this morning was caused by Typhoon jets taking a Ryanair plane to Stansted Airport, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

East Anglian Daily Times: The track on FlightRadar24 of Ryanair flight FR2145, flying from Lithuania to Luton, which has been escorted into Stansted Airport by RAF jets. Picture: FlightRadar24/PA WireThe track on FlightRadar24 of Ryanair flight FR2145, flying from Lithuania to Luton, which has been escorted into Stansted Airport by RAF jets. Picture: FlightRadar24/PA Wire

Thousands of people in the county said they heard a large bang at around 8.35am.

People living in Ipswich, Haughley, Great Barton and Bury St Edmunds are among those who have reported hearing the noise.

Police in Suffolk have been inundated with calls from residents about the boom, caused by Typhoon fighter jets passing through the county after a security alert on board a Ryanair plane.

The airline has since confirmed the security alert, which stopped flights for around 10 minutes, was a hoax.

A Ryanair spokesman said: “This flight from Kaunas to London Luton diverted to London Stansted in line with procedures after Lithuanian authorities received a suspected hoax security alert.

“The aircraft landed normally at Stansted and customers will be transferred to Luton by coach when cleared to do so.”

Armed police were spotted at the airport and Essex Police said officers were investigating.

An RAF spokesman said: “The RAF can confirm Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this morning from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft.

“The aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted Airport.

“The Typhoon aircraft were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons, any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.”

MORE: Flights grounded and runway shut as RAF fighter jets escort Ryanair flight to Stansted Airport

A Suffolk police spokeswoman said this morning: “We have had several people ringing us saying they heard an explosion, callers were from west Suffolk, east Suffolk and Ipswich.

East Anglian Daily Times: Police officers next to the Ryanair plane. Picture: @zulu_wooloo/PA WIREPolice officers next to the Ryanair plane. Picture: @zulu_wooloo/PA WIRE

“We can confirm that the loud bang was a sonic boom produced by military aircraft.”

A sonic boom is the sound associated with the shock waves created by an object travelling through the air faster than the speed of sound.

People living on the Suffolk/Norfolk border, in towns such as Diss, have also reported hearing the boom.

Residents in north Essex, in towns such as Harwich, also heard the noise.

Gary Avis wrote on Twitter: “Unbelievable big bang or explosion heard mid-Suffolk?? What was it, it just shook the barn!”

While Hayley Shireen said: “Huge bang heard in Haughley, shook the entire house.”

Stay with us for updates on this developing news story as we receive them from the emergency services.

Did you hear the bang? Tell us where you heard it here.

East Anglian Daily Times: File photo of a Ryanair jet, similar to the one flying from Lithuania to Luton which has been escorted into Stansted Airport by RAF jets. Picture: Niall Carson/PA WireFile photo of a Ryanair jet, similar to the one flying from Lithuania to Luton which has been escorted into Stansted Airport by RAF jets. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire