The strongest sonic boom ever recorded was 7,000 Pa (144 psf) and it did not cause injury to the researchers who were exposed to it. The boom was produced by an F-4 flying just above the speed of sound at an altitude of 100 feet (30 m).

Yes, a human can withstand a sonic boom without physical injury, as the impact on the body is practically nil. A sonic boom is essentially a loud, thunder-like noise caused by the shockwaves of an object traveling faster than the speed of sound. While the sound can be startling—often reaching levels of 110 to 120 decibels—it is not high enough to cause structural damage to human tissue or eardrums in typical overflight scenarios. Historically, researchers have been exposed to booms of up to 144 decibels (equivalent to 7,000 pascals) without any lasting harm, though the pressure wave can feel like a "thump" in the chest. In 2026, with the development of "quiet" supersonic aircraft like NASA's X-59, the focus has shifted from "withstanding" the boom to reducing the "startle effect." The primary "damage" from a sonic boom is usually limited to shattering fragile glass or causing minor cracks in old plaster, rather than any biological threat to humans on the ground.