An RAF Typhoon aircraft was sent to intercept an Air India flight after reports of a bomb threat.
The resulting sonic boom shook homes and windows in Derby leading to a number of calls to the emergency services.
According to Flightradar24, the Air India B777 Flight 191 flew past Liverpool as it was on route to Newark in the US from Mumbai.
It was forced to turn back and was joined by a Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon to be escorted to London Stansted Airport.
The jets were launched from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire to escort the Air India Boeing 777 civilian aircraft.
Air India had tweeted that the plane made a "precautionary landing" due to a bomb threat, but later deleted it the tweet.
A loud bang was heard by several residents of Derby just after 10am, believed to be a sonic boom caused by the two RAF jets escorting the plane to the airport.
The runway at Stansted has reopened and is fully operational while the aircraft is parked on an isolated stand, as Essex Police make inquiries.
An RAF spokeswoman told PA: "The RAF can confirm Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this morning from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft. The aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted Airport.
"The Typhoon aircraft were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons; any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted."
They later confirmed to Derbyshire Live: "The recent loud bang heard over Derbyshire was as a result of a RAF jet passing over the county causing a sonic boom."
Shortly after police released their statement, the RAF confirmed that the jet was a Typhoon "launched to intercept a civilian aircraft".
Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service said: "Loud bangs that could be heard across Derby and and parts of Derbyshire are being attributed to a sonic boom caused by a low flying aircraft."
