2025 Chicago Air and Water Show: Residents of East Lakeview condo buildings say windows shattered during Thunderbirds practice
Share and Follow

CHICAGO (WLS) — North Side residents say some of the windows in the lobby of multiple condo buildings were shattered Friday morning, during Air and Water show rehearsals.

Residents said the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds jets were flying low over the lakefront, and they heard a loud noise at the same time the glass shattered.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Chicago police said a 311 report was made about 10:20 a.m., that four front lobby windows of a residential building had shattered in the 3100-block of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive in East Lakeview.

The lakefront high-rise spent much of the day cleaning up as shards of broken glass littered the lobby area after an apparent flyover literally shook the building.

“You felt it. I actually felt it in my body,” resident James Baran said.

Baran, a building board member, was in his unit at 3180 North DuSable Lake Shore Drive as the Thunderbirds were rehearsing for this weekend’s Air and Water Show.

“Out of nowhere, just boom!” Baran said. “And the glass actually flexed right next to my face. I was about a foot from the window.”

The upper-floor windows are made of safety glass, but down in the lobby, three-plate glass windows had shattered.

“It was a group of white jets going by at the time, and one split off as they usually do and flew directly over our building,” resident Steven Cosgrove said. “Immediately afterward, I heard a colossal kaboom.”

People downstairs were shaken, but thankfully no one was hurt.

“I would say the pilot probably goosed the throttle a little more than he should have and went supersonic briefly,” Cosgrove said.

About a mile north, there was a similar story at a building near Lake Shore and Irving Park.

An email sent to residents said windows were broken twice, once in the morning and again mid-afternoon.

It happened around the time the Thunderbirds took to the skies again along the lakefront.

The management at both high-rises have contacted police and the local alderman.

Damage at both buildings is estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars.

An Air Force spokesperson shared the following statement with ABC7:
“On Aug. 15, the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, conducted their standard practice demonstration in advance of the airshow. A thorough review of the practice determined the Thunderbird jets did not go supersonic at any point during the demonstration.”

A message left by ABC7 for the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events was not returned.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it was not involved in the incident.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Air Canada Halts Flights Amid Flight Attendant Strike Over Unresolved Union Negotiations

TORONTO — Air Canada suspended operations as more than 10,000 Air Canada…

B-2 Bomber and Fighter Jets Featured at Trump-Putin Summit

() Observers say it was a particularly telling moment Friday in Alaska:…

Footage Captures Rescue Team Saving California Hiker Stranded Behind Waterfall for Two Days

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – In the South Valley, first responders pulled…

Court Finds Portion of Florida’s School Book Law Violates Constitution

U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza focused primarily on part of the law…

Brandi Glanville Unveils Her New Look After Investing Over $100K

Brandi Glanville provided an update regarding her facial disfigurement and revealed the…

Bodycam footage shows Dem South Carolina gubernatorial hopeful’s rant, calling himself ‘Superman’ and ‘God’

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Bizarre bodycam footage has…

Controversial New Orleans mayor indicted for alleged illicit relationship with taxpayer-funded bodyguard

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! New Orleans Mayor LaToya…

Democrats Join Forces to Challenge Trump’s Redistricting Efforts

The reaction has drawn cheers from progressives and forged, at least for…