A powerful noise heard yesterday afternoon across parts of southern Alicante surprised and worried many residents, with some initially believing it could have been an explosion. The sound was reported shortly after four o’clock, particularly in the Torrevieja area, and prompted widespread comment on social media.

The boom is thought to have been caused by military aircraft involved in ongoing NATO training exercises. Experts say the noise can occur when aircraft break the sound barrier, creating intense shockwaves that are clearly audible from the ground. Similar sounds have been reported in recent days in other parts of the Valencian Community.

The flights form part of the Tactical Leadership Programme, or TLP, an international NATO air training course based at Albacete Air Base. The first course of 2026 began on 15 January and runs until 6 February, with missions taking place on weekday afternoons following theoretical and simulator training.

Around 600 personnel from several countries are involved, including pilots, intelligence officers and tactical controllers. A total of 32 aircraft are taking part, alongside support planes such as AWACS early warning aircraft, refuelling tankers, drones, rescue helicopters and air defence systems used for training purposes.