A SpaceX test flight endangered several packed passenger jets when it unexpectedly exploded over the Caribbean earlier this year, according to newly-released documents from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).
The seventh un-crewed Starship test flight scattered a massive debris field across the skies when it was “destroyed” within 10 minutes of its launch January, according to the documents reviewed by the Wall Street Journal.
Two commercial flights and a private jet carrying around 450 passengers in total were left facing dangerous conditions in the skies for up to an hour, the FAA said.
The crew of one of the aircraft, a JetBlue flight to San Juan, were warned their journey could only be made “at your own risk,” according to the report.
Meanwhile, two flights — an Iberia Airlines plane and a private jet — had to be warned to change course by an air traffic controller after they flew too close to each other following the explosion.
The planes were forced to divert away from a sudden no-fly zone as “air-traffic controllers scrambled to get planes to safety,” according to the report.
One pilot was able to make an emergency landing at San Juan after he repeated “mayday” to an air controller three times, according to the report.
Thankfully, all three aircraft were able to land safely without any damage or injuries to passengers or crew.
SpaceX allegedly failed to notify air traffic control in the immediate aftermath of the explosion via the official hotline, according to the FAA.
Air controllers in Miami only learned of the explosion’s debris after being alerted by other pilots forced to fly through it, the FAA found.
Musk’s SpaceX Starship, which flies on the most powerful rocket ever made, launched from Texas in January, flying for around eight minutes before ground staff lost contact with the 400-foot-tall spacecraft.
Just minutes later, mysterious debris was caught on camera over the Caribbean.
January’s failed mission came just days after Musk launched the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under President Trump.
SpaceX did not respond immediately to requests for comment Sunday.
The space company confirmed the failed launch at the time.
“Starship experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn. Teams will continue to review data from today’s flight test to better understand root cause,” the company said in a statement in January.
“With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will help us improve Starship’s reliability,” the statement continued.
Following the January explosion, Musk wrote, “Success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed,” in a post on X, the social media platform he owns.
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