Loud noise caused by fighter jets spreads panic in Panjim

The noise was apparently caused by IAF’s Sukhoi fighters, participating in a joint exercise of the IAF and Navy; the fighter jets were simulating attack situation; the exercise will continue till Thursday
Loud noise caused by fighter jets spreads panic in Panjim
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PANJIM/VASCO: Panic gripped residents of Panjim and surrounding villages following unexpected loud noise caused by the Sukhoi fighter (Su-30MKI) jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF), holding joint exercise with the Indian Navy in the State on Tuesday night.

The Defence authorities stated that this exercise will continue for another couple of days and have appealed to civilians not to panic.

It was around 2 am on Wednesday when the people woke up from their deep sleep to the loud and supersonic sound by the fighter jets. The people heard the sound thrice within a span of few seconds.

Many people panicked and rushed to their windows and even outside their house to know what was happening. 

Many people took to social media reporting there was a thunderous noise and that even windows of their houses rattled. 

Some people even called O Heraldo to know what had happened.

On Wednesday, the Indian Navy sources confirmed that the loud noise was by Sukhoi fighter jets that were conducting a routine exercise at high altitude flying levels. It was an exercise where the fighter jets have to simulate attack like situations and check its preparedness and readiness to handle such situations.

It was a normal routine exercise and aircraft were flying above 2,000 feet altitude and denied that these were flying low. 

“A joint exercise between Indian Air Force and the Navy is being conducted here in Goa. The IAF has sent its Su-30MKI fighters to participate in the exercise, alongside the MiG-29K fighters of the Indian Navy. Since the Sukhois are larger in size, the noise is louder than the MiG 29s,” Indian Navy sources said.

“These are day and night exercises that are going on, which will continue for another couple of days,” the sources said.

When asked whether the local defence authorities should have forewarned the civilian population about the exercise to be held at wee hours, the sources said that this was to be kept confidential and hence there wasn’t any public announcement.

Cezar D'Mello of Panjim said, “We all came at the windows as it was so horrifying. But we could not capture the video. We could hear only the sound.”
Alwyn Michael D'Sa said, “Anyone heard the terrifying sound at 2 am? I believe there were three aircrafts flying at supersonic speed creating the sonic boom...wonder what they were doing over the city in the dead of the night, creating fear. Or maybe they came to inspect the Smart City progress? Yes it was very frightening as if there was a tremor or a meteor had entered the earth’s atmosphere. Hope some explanation comes soon.”
Gaurish Dharwadker posted on his facebook account, “It was suddenly at around 2.02 am at our home in Fontainhas, a deafening sound of an airplane started approaching the skies and it seemed pretty close to our house and lasted for around 20 seconds and then began receding.”
“We have had plenty of Navy planes and airplanes all through our life and never panicked. This was something else. I cannot elaborate any further opinion as there was an abrupt end to it. It took a while to get our sleep back,” he posted.
Herald Goa
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