A Swiss army F/A-18 jet breaking the sound barrier was responsible for the loud noise that alarmed residents of Lausanne on Monday.
This content was published on
1 minute
SDA-Keystone/ac
The boom – which was heard around 2:50pm in the city of Lausanne on Lake Geneva – alarmed residents and elicited many calls to the police. It was caused by the sound barrier being surpassed by one of two Swiss army F/A-18 jets that scrambled to action from the Emmen air base. The reason for their need for speed was an aircraft that had lost radio contact.
The army did not specify the location of the incident beyond the fact that it occurred in the canton of Vaud where Lausanne is located. No further details were given of the mission except that it ended without problems.
Sonic boom caused by American F-18 Hornet:
External Content
Earlier this month, the army’s aerial display team Patrouille SuisseExternal link surprised participants at a yodelling festival. The acrobatic pilots made a mistake with the location and were meant to perform at the centenary of the death of local aviation pioneer Oskar Bider six kilometres away.
More
More
Swiss beef up air police service
This content was published on
From January 1, the Swiss Air Force is extending its service hours as part of a plan to set up a 24-hour air police duty.
Have you heard something about Swiss diplomacy that you’d like us to fact check?
Not all information circulating about Switzerland’s foreign relations is accurate or well understood. Tell us what you'd like us to fact check or clarify.
Swiss scientists discover unusual zones in Earth’s mantle
This content was published on
Using high-resolution models to study the Earth's mantle, scientists have identified zones of rocks in the lower mantle that are colder, or have a different composition, than surrounding rocks.
Egyptian diplomat’s murder: prosecutor calls for acquittal of defendant’s girlfriend
This content was published on
The Swiss attorney general has called for the girlfriend of the main defendant in the case of the assassination of an Egyptian diplomat in Geneva in 1995 to be acquitted. The woman is charged with complicity.
Low-cost e-tailers Temu and Shein put Swiss retail sector under pressure
This content was published on
Most Swiss retailers are concerned by the stiff competition from China's low-cost online platforms Temu and Shein, according to a survey.
This content was published on
More and more offices are standing empty in Switzerland's major cities. Nevertheless, new office constructions are likely to increase in the future, a study shows.
Zoos should consider culling surplus animals to regulate populations, say researchers
This content was published on
Researchers from the University of Zurich say zoos must rethink population management and allow animals to reproduce naturally - zoos should then cull surplus animals.
Swiss billionaire Martin Haefner creates foundation
This content was published on
Martin Haefner, owner of the car importer Amag and one of Switzerland's richest citizens, has set up a foundation with his wife Marianne.
Swiss army cuts uniform distribution to save millions
This content was published on
Members of the Swiss Armed Forces will only receive a distinctive grey dress uniform, the famous "Tenü A", for representational purposes in the future as a cost-cutting measure to save CHF55 million.
Swiss, Danish tourists among three dead in Australian plane crash
This content was published on
A light aircraft crashed during take-off from a tourist island in Western Australia, killing three people including Swiss and Danish tourists and injuring three others, authorities said on Wednesday.
Presidents of Ukraine and Switzerland discuss future meeting
This content was published on
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Swiss counterpart, Karin Keller-Sutter, have held talks by phone to prepare a future bilateral meeting, it was announced on Wednesday.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
The sky’s the limit: Swiss aviation pioneers
This content was published on
On the centenary of the first non-stop transatlantic flight, we look at the groundbreaking achievements of some Swiss aviation pioneers.
Confusion as Swiss air force flies over the wrong festival
This content was published on
A Swiss aerial display team missed the target of their flyover in canton Basel Country on Sunday afternoon by some six kilometres.
This content was published on
By 2020, the Swiss army will have two F/A-18 jets ready to take off, fully armed, within 15 minutes, at any time of the day or night. The initiative follows a 2009 Senate motion to guarantee the availability of air police services.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.