A sonic boom rang out across the D.C. region Sunday, as F-16 fighter aircraft responded to an an unresponsive pilot flying a Cessna that prompted authorities to place the U.S. Capitol complex on alert, authorities said. State of play: The incident was connected to a "sonic boom" heard across the D.C. region on Sunday afternoon that officials in Annapolis, Maryland, said was caused by an authorized Defense Department plane out of Joint Base Andrews. North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said in an emailed statement that it deployed F-16 fighter aircraft. • "The NORAD aircraft were authorized to travel at ... (full story)