Did you hear a loud ‘boom’ in the Metro East? Here’s what it was

O’FALLON, Ill. – You might have heard an unusual noise Wednesday evening in the Metro East, specifically a loud “boom.” Authorities say it was all part of a routine procedure.

The O’Fallon (Illinois) Police Department confirmed that military officials at Scott Air Force Base “conducted a controlled detonation” of an outdated military projectile.

Around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday, military officials destroyed the projectile, which caused a loud, thunderous boom that could be heard from miles.

Earlier on Wednesday, O’Fallon police responded to a report of a suspicious object, which ended up being the projectile, rusty while partly cylindrical and partly pointed. Authorities say that Caseyville employees had been digging for a sewer line and unexpectedly found the object.

After a close look, O’Fallon police contacted Scott Air Force Base, which confirmed the object was a 90mm projectile estimated to be around 80 years old.

Along with this experience, on occasion, one may hear “booms” out of Scott Air Force Base during training exercises.