Can a person be killed by a sonic boom?

Question

Can a person be killed by a sonic boom of an aircraft(or anything going faster then sound) if it came close?

Answer 1

I very much doubt it. While I was in the navy, and F-14 and an F-18 broke the sound barrier in formation flying about 50 off the water between our ship and another while we were at sea. I don't think you could get much closer than that, and I'm still here. As are the hundreds of other people that were watching from the flight deck. I was wearing hearing protection, and it was loud, but certainly not going to kill anybody. I don't think I would want to be without some sort of hearing protection though.

Answer 2

While in the US Navy, it was an occasional occurrence for a fighter (usually F-14D) aircraft to do a low level super sonic flyby near the carrier just before the last recovery. Low level meaning around 100 feet (rad-alt). Near the carrier meaning within 300 feet. No one was ever killed, even though there were about 100 people on the deck each time.

One time (not in band camp, but on CVN-71), we had either a Tornado or a Mirage do a VERY LOW flyby that went supersonic just after it passed us. We were on the flight deck when the Air Boss called out "Eyes to Port, Eyes to Port." I looked over just in time to see the top 2 feet of a vertical stab go by, like a shark fin above the deck edge. Must have been 50 foot on the rad alt and very close to the boat. As soon as he was about even with the front of the boat, we heard the boom and he pulled up hard. Flares flares flares. People who weren't ready and didn't actually see it were dumbfounded. It was gone lickety split, quick, fast, and in a hurry. Flares still burning when the aircraft was too far away to see.

Answer 3

No.
Lightening causes sonic booms. If you were ever near a lightening strike, you would have heard an incredibly loud example of a sonic boom.
But it will not kill you unless the bolt actually strikes you. And it's not the noise or sonic boom that's dangerous.

But, a shock wave from a nuclear bomb or a star blowing up could probably kill you, because it's so much energy.

A cracked whip actually breaks the sound barrier, that's why it's so noisy.

Answer 4

Probably not..I saw a documentary once where the British used a low fly-over by a jet to cause a sonic boom over a bus that had been hijacked. It blew out the windows and disoriented the hijackers long enough for the SAS to storm the bus and take control.

Answer 5

Theorectically, yes. It would depend on the size of the shockwave... BUT nothing is big enough to go the speed of sound at ground level... so realistically... no.

The lowest I have ever heard of an aircraft flying at the speed of sound was around 30,000ft. They have to fly higher where the air is thinner with less resistance in order to go fast enough. Also, the jet would have to break the sound barrier at exactly the right point in order for the shock wave to even hit a person. The sonic boom only happens at that moment, not the duration of the flight.

In conclusion... this jet would have to be flying about 25ft AGL and hit the speed of sound at a precise time. A jet cannot fly that low and also can't break the sound barrier that low.. So I guess your answer would be.... no.

Answer 6

if i understand correctly, the sonic boom is the sound you here when the aircraft breaks the sound barrier. it can't kill you, if anything you would maybe have some temporary hearing loss. sorry if you mean something else, i'm not an expert on the subject

Answer 7

I guess if it scarred the sxxx out of you and caused you to jump in front of a car it could. It's like snakes. Their not all poisonous but if it crawls across your foot and gives you a heart attack it might as well be.

Answer 8

Dont think so. Maybe burst your ear drums though.

Answer 9

Yes.