New Jersey Air National Guard Launches Night Flight Drills Near Atlantic Ci

The skies around Atlantic City will be louder than usual as the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard conducts nightly flight training exercises through next Tuesday. The drills, which began Tuesday (March 24), involve F-16C Fighting Falcon jets taking off from Atlantic City International Airport and are expected to continue until next week, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

These exercises come just a week after a military flight training operation out of Maryland caused a sonic boom that startled residents along New Jersey shore towns. The Maryland jets, flying from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, were conducting supersonic test flights about three miles off the coast, which resulted in loud booms and vibrations felt from Avalon to Wildwood, as reported by NJ.com. Officials confirmed that no storms or severe weather were present at the time of the booms, attributing the noise to military activity.

The 177th Fighter Wing, known as the "Jersey Devils," is based at Atlantic City International Airport and has been flying out of the area since 1958. The unit's current mission aircraft, the F-16C Fighting Falcon, can reach speeds up to Mach 2 and is recognized for its powerful engine noise. The Air National Guard says these night flights are part of routine training to maintain mission-capability and combat-readiness, as detailed by AOL News.

Local officials and the Air National Guard have alerted residents to expect increased jet noise during the evening hours. The training is designed to ensure pilots remain prepared for both state and federal missions. Anyone with concerns is encouraged to check updates from the 177th Fighter Wing’s official channels or the Atlantic City International Airport.

The exercises are scheduled to end after next Tuesday, with normal noise levels expected to return. There are currently no reports of planned supersonic flights over land during these drills, but residents are advised that the jets may still be heard or seen during nighttime hours.