The loud explosion felt across Central Illinois today was a sonic boom.  That is at least, the message from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. Federal, State, and local officials worked together to figure out what the noise was, as multiple people in multiple cities felt and heard the explosion. 

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency says that it was a F-15 fighter jet in the airspace above Central Illinois that created a sonic boom from going faster than the speed of sound. The pressure wave created an audible noise and minor shaking in the region.

At this time, there are no reports of damage associated with the incident.