By Alec Fernandes
A powerful aerial blast has thousands of startled residents searching for answers. Around 5:30 p.m. on May 28, people across South Carolina's Midlands reported hearing what sounded like a massive explosion. Surveillance footage showed buildings jolting, and some witnesses even described feeling a pressure wave hit their chests moments before the sound arrived. Reports flooded in not only from South Carolina, but also from neighboring states along the East Coast. The US Geological Survey quickly ruled out an earthquake, confirming that the event was instead a sonic boom. But what created it?
Several witnesses reported seeing unusual contrails in the sky shortly after the boom, and at least one camera appeared to capture a mysterious streak overhead. One explanation is a meteor—one exploding high in the atmosphere can generate a powerful shockwave capable of rattling windows and shaking homes. However, there are problems with that theory, as NASA reported no satellite detections of a fireball. Another explanation is a military or other high-speed aircraft breaking the sound barrier, yet military officials reported no known supersonic operations in the area, leaving investigators without a definitive answer.
Could the unidentified contrail have been something far less ordinary? Some are speculating that the source was a UFO. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page!
