I happened to be in the vicinity at the time.
The drone of the departures was in the background while I was concentrating on something else, when I heard a loud bang. It got my attention for sure, as there was a departure overhead but out of sight...I waited to hear if the sound of the jet changed but couldn't discern anything. Then I thought maybe it was the first clap of thunder of an approaching storm, as there was weather about.
I thought nothing more of it until I saw it on the news.
If in fact what I heard was the engine 'letting go' they sure would have known about it onboard.