Mystery earthquake that shook Liverpool was actually an ‘airquake’ from a supersonic boom

Tuesday morning’s mini-earthquake felt across Liverpool and Merseyside was actually an ‘airquake’ caused by a supersonic boom from a jet fighter.

Aerospace firm BAE Systems have confirmed the shock wave came from a Eurofighter Typhoon that was undergoing testing off the coast.

Seismic activity in the region was noted on British Geological Survey recording devices at around 11am but the rumble and tremors were a sonic in nature.

Prior to the event being 100% confirmed as a sonic boom, a BGS spokesperson told LiverpoolWorld: “It seems too have been too far widely felt to be an earthquake, it is more likely to have been a supersonic airwave, which can be described as an airquake.”

There were numerous reports from people across Merseyside and those affected took to social media to discuss the event.

One Sefton resident said: “It sounded like building thunder but had a vibration like a big truck rumbling past the house. The windows shook.”

BGS told LiverpoolWorld: “We’ve looked at the data on our seismic stations in the region and there is no evidence of an earthquake, however, we are currently looking at the possibility that there has been a sonic event in the area.

“We have had quite a few reports of an event felt at around 11ish, most reports are from Lancashire but also some from Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

“We’ve been in touch with British Areospace who have said there were jets in the area, they may have inadvertently gone supersonic.”

BAE Systems later confirmed that the event “was a supersonic boom from one of our Typhoon aircraft, which was undergoing flight testing in an offshore range area”.

They added: “We regularly conduct flight testing sorties as part of the Typhoon development programme and our broader role in safeguarding national security.

“We operate in airspace cleared for supersonic testing but apologise for any alarm caused to local residents.”