Mystery Boom Shakes Central South Carolina Across 40-50 Miles, Leaving Officials Without Answers
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 29
Mystery Boom Shakes Central South Carolina Across 40-50 Miles, Leaving Officials Without Answers
5 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 29
About 5:30 p.m. Thursday, an extraordinarily loud boom rattled central South Carolina, with reports spanning Columbia and at least 40 to 50 miles east.
The U.S. Geological Survey placed the event about 3.5 miles northeast of St. Andrews, but by Friday experts had not identified a cause and had already dismissed several online theories.
Hundreds of residents described a thunderclap-like blast and rumble that felt like an earthquake, though authorities reported no serious injuries or property damage.
Richland County sheriff’s officials said they had not been notified of any cause and had no indication it was a law-enforcement matter, leaving the source of the boom unresolved.
The South Carolina boom was not an earthquake or meteor. What national security event could justify a secret supersonic flight over a major city?
As NASA tests its quiet X-59 jet, why are powerful, unauthorized sonic booms still rattling American cities without any official explanation?