Mysterious Loud Explosions in Bremen: The German Military Flights Causing the Sonic Booms

In the early hours of this morning, residents of Bremen and Lilienthal were startled by a series of loud noises between 10:30 and 11:00 AM. The source of these sonic booms was none other than supersonic flights conducted by the Bundeswehr.

Bremen, situated in a flight corridor, found itself in the path of these high-speed aircraft, causing the loud noises to be heard over the Hanseatic city and surrounding regions. The current Bundeswehr flight schedule includes continued loud supersonic flights over Bremen and the surrounding areas, with recent sonic booms occurring on September 3, 2025, in the Verden district during flights heading towards Bremerhaven.

When an aircraft flies at supersonic speeds, it generates a series of bangs due to the immense air pressure. This phenomenon can be visualized as a symbolic "Mach cone" trailing behind the aircraft. The Mach cone, a cone-shaped shockwave created by an object moving faster than the speed of sound, can extend up to 80 kilometers in width.

The sound of a supersonic bang is caused when the Mach cone touches the ground. This continuous sound, rather than a single bang, is known as the supersonic bang. The Bundeswehr's supersonic flights in Bremen generate these series of bangs due to their supersonic speeds.

Despite the unsettling nature of the loud noises, the Bundeswehr's flights pose no danger to the public. The air traffic office of the Bundeswehr tries to avoid flying over inhabited areas, but the densely populated Federal Republic sets narrow limits on this.

The Verden police provided an explanation, referring to information from the Bundeswehr. However, the Bundeswehr has not commented on whether supersonic flights in Bremen will be more frequent in the future. Explanatory messages from previous years were spread via social media when the sound was heard.

In response to the loud noises, people in Bremen were initially unsettled, unable to explain the sound. However, with the clarification provided by the authorities, residents can now understand the source of the disturbance and rest assured that they are not in any danger.