A dramatic rocket explosion from Elon Musk's SpaceX programme created a severe hazard for commercial aviation, placing hundreds of passengers in potential danger, according to a damning regulatory report.
Chaos in the Skies Following Starship Blast
The incident occurred during the seventh test flight of SpaceX's uncrewed Starship rocket earlier this year. The vehicle, intended for future Mars missions, suffered what the company termed a "rapid unscheduled disassembly" shortly after lifting off from a landing platform in Texas.
Newly released records show the explosion scattered a massive debris field directly into a busy flight path over the Caribbean. The fallout from the blast immediately impacted multiple passenger aircraft, with one JetBlue flight en route to San Juan being told the continuation of its journey would be "at your own risk."
Mayday Call and Narrow Avoidance of Disaster
In total, three commercial flights carrying 450 people were endangered on the night of the explosion. The risks were acute, with authorities fearing debris could remain airborne for up to an hour.
The danger of Foreign Object Damage (FOD) to aircraft engines is well-documented, famously cited in the 2000 Concorde disaster. Faced with this threat, one pilot was instructed by an air traffic controller to declare an emergency and land immediately. The aircraft's response was a stark: "In that case we declare emergency: Mayday. Mayday. Mayday."
Furthermore, an air traffic controller is credited with preventing a separate disaster by averting a collision between two other planes that had flown too close together amidst the chaos.
FAA Investigation and SpaceX's Response
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) later concluded the explosion posed a "potential extreme safety risk." The agency also revealed that its personnel were not officially informed about the incident by SpaceX in its aftermath. Controllers in Miami reportedly learned of the danger only from the pilots whose flights were impacted.
In a social media post following the failed test, SpaceX focused on the developmental aspect, stating the event would help improve Starship's reliability. Elon Musk himself referred to the explosion as "entertainment."
The FAA launched a review into managing debris fields from rocket explosions, an effort intensified when another SpaceX test vehicle blew up in March. The review was later closed after the agency stated its recommendations had been implemented, adding it "will not hesitate to act if additional safety measures are required."
