Low-flying fighter jets over Jamshedpur stuns residents

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, April 16 : Jamshedpur woke up to a sudden roar in the skies on Thursday morning as two fighter jets streaked across the city in rapid succession, leaving residents startled and intrigued.
The loud thunder-like sound, heard around 11:25 am, sent people rushing to their rooftops in hopes of catching a glimpse.
However, by the time many reached vantage points, the aircraft had already vanished—leaving behind only the fading echo of their powerful engines.
The unexpected aerial activity quickly became the talk of the town, with residents wondering why fighter jets were flying so low over a city like Jamshedpur. Some recalled a similar incident during the early hours of May 6–7, 2025, when jets roared across the night sky during a military operation, catching most citizens off guard while they slept.
According to available information, the aircraft had taken off from the Kalaikunda Air Force Station in West Bengal as part of a tactical training sortie. Such exercises often involve low-altitude flying to simulate real combat conditions. Typically, fighter jets in these drills operate at altitudes ranging between 250 and 500 feet (75 to 150 meters).
In more advanced “ultra-low flying” scenarios, jets may descend to as low as 100 feet (around 30 meters) within designated training zones.
The primary objective of low flying is to evade enemy radar systems—a technique known as “nap-of-the-earth” flying. By hugging the terrain and using natural cover such as hills and vegetation, pilots can avoid detection while maintaining precision targeting capabilities. This approach also enhances the element of surprise, allowing aircraft to approach targets at high speed with minimal warning.
Such maneuvers, however, come with an unmistakable acoustic footprint.
Fighter jets operating at low altitudes can generate noise levels between 130 and 150 decibels—louder than an ambulance siren.
If flying at supersonic speeds, they may also produce a sonic boom, which can sound like a sudden explosion to those on the ground.
While the sight—and sound—of fighter jets over Jamshedpur may have raised eyebrows, it was most likely part of a routine yet critical training exercise aimed at maintaining combat readiness.