SpaceX Starship Mishap Diverts Dozens Of Flights As FAA Warns Of Falling Debris

A SpaceX Starship test flight on Thursday forced dozens of commercial flights to divert after the Federal Aviation Administration warned of falling debris, highlighting growing tensions between commercial aviation and the expanding space industry.

What Happened: The incident occurred when SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft experienced what the company termed a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” during its seventh test flight from Boca Chica, Texas. The event triggered air traffic disruptions primarily affecting routes near Florida and the Caribbean.

American Airlines Group Inc. AAL reported fewer than 10 flight diversions, while a JetBlue Airways Corp. JBLU flight from Fort Lauderdale to San Juan was forced to return to its origin. FedEx Corp. FDX cargo operations also faced route adjustments, reported CNBC, citing data from FlightAware.

“We briefly slowed and diverted aircraft around the area where space vehicle debris was falling,” an FAA spokesperson said, confirming no injuries or property damage were reported.

Why It Matters: The test flight, which launched at 5:37 p.m. ET, initially showed promise as the Super Heavy booster, powered by 33 Raptor engines generating 16 million pounds of thrust, successfully separated. However, telemetry froze at 8 minutes and 27 seconds into the flight.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk maintained an optimistic stance, posting on X: “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!” The flight was particularly significant as it tested various heat shield improvements, including metallic tiles and active cooling systems, crucial for SpaceX’s ambitious plans for Mars missions.