Sonic boom over Lodz was Polish fighter jets responding to Russian drone near border

Polish authorities have confirmed that a loud sonic boom heard by residents of Lodz and surrounding areas was caused by Polish Air Force fighter jets that were scrambled in response to a Russian drone detected near Poland's border with Ukraine.

The Polish military said the jets were launched as part of standard procedures for protecting national airspace when a potential threat was identified approaching from the direction of Ukraine. The drone, reportedly Russian-made, did not enter Polish airspace but came close enough to trigger an alert.

Poland has been on heightened air defense alert since Russian drones and missiles repeatedly violated or threatened its airspace during attacks on western Ukraine. NATO allies have expressed concern about incidents near their borders.