Fighter jets are allowed to break the sound barrier routinely inside designated military training airspace and over open ocean, and they may do so over populated areas during a national defense intercept. What they cannot do, absent that kind of emergency or specific authorization, is fly supersonic over communities where the sonic boom would reach the ground. Military jets operate under Department of Defense and service-branch rules that largely confine supersonic flight to remote areas, while civil aircraft are separately banned from exceeding Mach 1 in U.S. airspace without a special FAA authorization.
Where Military Supersonic Flight Is Permitted
Almost all military supersonic flying happens inside Military Operating Areas and restricted airspace blocks, typically over sparsely populated desert, mountain ranges, or open ocean. These areas are coordinated with the FAA to keep military and civilian traffic separated, and many already have environmental reviews on file that account for supersonic operations.1FAA. Special Flight Authorization for Supersonic Aircraft
Outside those designated zones, supersonic flight over populated land is heavily restricted under each branch’s own rules. The Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps all treat unauthorized sonic booms over communities as serious incidents, partly because of the noise complaints and property damage claims that follow, and partly because maintaining good relationships with communities near bases matters for long-term operations.
Military jets fall outside the FAA’s civil regulatory framework because federal regulations define “civil aircraft” as aircraft other than public aircraft, and military aircraft are public aircraft.2eCFR. 14 CFR 1.1 – General Definitions That is why the permission question for a fighter pilot is answered by military policy rather than by 14 CFR 91.817.
The National Defense Exception
The clearest exception to the over-land restriction is national defense. When NORAD scrambles fighters to intercept an unresponsive or threatening aircraft, those jets may go supersonic over populated areas if the situation demands it. Speed is the priority in an intercept, and the sonic boom is treated as an unavoidable consequence of protecting the airspace. Residents near Washington, D.C., and other high-security zones have occasionally heard these booms and mistaken them for explosions.
Why the Restrictions Exist
When an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound, roughly 761 miles per hour at sea level, it compresses air into shock waves that trail behind it in a cone shape.3NASA. Speed of Sound When that cone sweeps across the ground, anyone underneath hears a sharp, thunderlike crack. The boom is not a one-time event at the moment the jet breaks the barrier; it follows the aircraft continuously for as long as it flies supersonic, so a long pass can roll a boom across miles of terrain.
Typical sonic booms expose communities to less than two pounds per square foot of overpressure, and buildings in good condition can handle up to about 16 pounds per square foot before sustaining structural damage.4U.S. Air Force. Sonic Boom Even a mild boom is startling, though, and there is always some probability of minor damage like cracked glass or dislodged tiles. Intensity depends on the aircraft’s size, altitude, speed, and flight path. A fighter at 30,000 feet produces a softer boom on the ground than one flying by at 5,000 feet.
The Civil Aircraft Rule
Since 1973, federal regulations have prohibited civil aircraft from flying faster than Mach 1 in U.S. airspace without authorization. The rule at 14 CFR 91.817 states that no person may operate a civil aircraft at a true flight Mach number greater than 1 except under conditions set by a special flight authorization. Even aircraft capable of exceeding Mach 1 that fly to or from U.S. airports must carry flight-plan limitations ensuring no sonic boom reaches the surface within the United States.5eCFR. 14 CFR 91.817 – Civil Aircraft Sonic Boom
Civil operators who need to fly faster than Mach 1 can apply for a Special Flight Authorization under 14 CFR 91.818. The permission is tied to a specific purpose such as airworthiness testing, sonic boom research, quiet supersonic demonstration, or noise certification. Applicants must describe the proposed flight area, provide environmental information under the National Environmental Policy Act, and account for the impact of any boom reaching the ground.6eCFR. 14 CFR 91.818 – Special Flight Authorization to Exceed Mach 1 Most applicants propose flight areas within existing military test ranges where environmental documentation already exists.1FAA. Special Flight Authorization for Supersonic Aircraft
What’s Changing
The half-century-old ban on civil supersonic flight is under pressure. In June 2025, a presidential executive order directed the FAA to repeal the 14 CFR 91.817 prohibition within 180 days and establish an interim noise-based certification standard in its place. The order also called for a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking within 18 months to set permanent noise thresholds for supersonic takeoff, landing, and en-route operations, based on actual test data rather than a blanket speed prohibition.7The White House. Leading The World in Supersonic Flight
Congress is moving in the same direction. The Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act passed the House in March 2026 and would direct the FAA to allow civil aircraft to fly at Mach 1 or higher as long as no sonic boom reaches the ground. As of mid-2026, the bill has been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee but has not yet received a vote.8Congress.gov. H.R. 3410 – Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act
The technology behind the shift is NASA’s X-59, the centerpiece of the agency’s Quesst mission. The X-59 is designed to fly supersonic while producing only a quiet thump instead of a traditional boom. It completed its second flight in early 2026 and is working through a series of test flights, gradually pushing to higher speeds and altitudes.9NASA. NASA’s X-59 Experimental Supersonic Aircraft Makes Second Flight The data NASA collects, particularly community reaction to the reduced boom, will feed into the FAA’s new noise standards. If the X-59 proves that supersonic flight can be quiet enough, the framework could shift from “no supersonic flight over land” to “no excessively loud supersonic flight over land.”
If a Sonic Boom Damages Your Property
If a military sonic boom cracks your windows or damages your property, you can file a claim against the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The process starts with Standard Form 95, which you submit directly to the military branch whose aircraft caused the damage.10General Services Administration. Claim for Damage, Injury, or Death (Standard Form 95) You will need to describe the incident, document the damage with photos, and state a specific dollar amount.
The critical deadline is two years. Federal law bars any tort claim against the United States unless it is presented in writing to the appropriate agency within two years of the date the damage occurred.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 2401 – Time for Commencing Action Against United States If the agency denies your claim, you then have six months to file a lawsuit in federal court. Miss either window and you lose the right to recover anything. Document everything as soon as it happens: photograph the damage, note the date and approximate time, and check with neighbors to see if they experienced the same boom.