Elon Musk’s Starship Test Raised Questions About Airspace Safety

A January test flight of SpaceX’s Starship rocket triggered emergency responses in commercial airspace after the vehicle exploded during ascent, according to Federal Aviation Administration records obtained by The Wall Street Journal.

The explosion sent debris across airspace near the Caribbean, prompting air traffic controllers to quickly reroute multiple aircraft to avoid potential collisions with falling rocket fragments.

FAA documents show that three aircraft, including a JetBlue passenger flight, an Iberia Airlines plane, and a private jet, were in significantly greater danger than previously disclosed. Together, the planes carried approximately 450 passengers.

Controllers described confusion during the incident and reported delays in receiving confirmation from SpaceX that the rocket had been lost.

The documents indicate that SpaceX did not immediately notify the FAA through its designated emergency hotline, delaying the activation of pre-established debris avoidance zones.

Controllers were forced to manage the situation in real time, increasing workload and creating what the FAA described as a “potential extreme safety risk.”

All aircraft ultimately landed safely, but the incident has renewed scrutiny over how rocket testing is coordinated with commercial aviation.