World · Europe · 5 hrs ago
Two Swiss F/A-18 jets cause sonic booms over central Switzerland
Two Swiss F/A-18 jets broke the sound barrier on Thursday, causing two loud booms heard in Lucerne and nearby areas.
The Swiss defence department said the jets were on a live mission in central Switzerland.
They were checking a state aircraft to see whether its details matched its diplomatic information.
The military described these checks as standard procedure.
It said there are about 200 such missions each year, and some can involve supersonic flight.
Reports of the booms came from a wide area, including Lucerne, Wetzikon and Ilanz.
The military did not give further details about the aircraft or say what would happen next.
Two Swiss F/A-18 fighter jets broke the sound barrier over central Switzerland on Thursday, causing two loud sonic booms.
The Swiss Federal Department of Defence confirmed the jets were on a live mission.
The jets were checking a state aircraft to see whether it matched its diplomatic information, the department said.
The department described such checks as standard procedure and said about 200 take place each year.
People reported hearing the booms in Lucerne and the surrounding area, with reports also coming from Wetzikon and Ilanz.
- Who
- Two Swiss F/A-18 fighter jets were involved. The Swiss Federal Department of Defence confirmed the incident.
- What
- The jets broke the sound barrier, causing two loud sonic booms.
- When
- Thursday, October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Over central Switzerland, including the Lucerne area and Innerschwyz.
- Why
- The jets were checking a state aircraft to see whether it matched its diplomatic information.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Two F/A-18 jets flew over central Switzerland and broke the sound barrier.
A news scout reported hearing two loud bangs and vibrations in Lucerne.
The Swiss Federal Department of Defence confirmed the jets were on a live mission checking a state aircraft.
- Aircraft
- Two F/A-18 fighter jets
- Mission
- Check of a state aircraft against its diplomatic information
- Location
- Central Switzerland, including Lucerne and Innerschwyz
- Reported sonic booms
- Two
- Routine missions
- About 200 such operations per year
3 sources
What people are saying
There are around 200 such operations a year.
It can happen that the sound barrier is broken.
Loud bang, twice in a row.