Starship Debris Danger: Report Claims SpaceX Understated Airplane Proximity

Daily Technology

23/12/2025

A recent report alleges that debris from SpaceX's Starship test flights posed a greater risk to commercial aircraft than the company has publicly acknowledged. Documents obtained by The Wall Street Journal suggest that during a January test flight, falling rocket fragments came dangerously close to passenger planes, forcing air traffic controllers to reroute flights and creating near-collision scenarios.

Key Takeaways

Falling Starship debris from a January test flight allegedly came closer to passenger planes than SpaceX admits.
FAA documents indicate an "extreme safety risk" to three flights carrying 450 passengers.
Air traffic controllers were reportedly informed of the debris by pilots, not immediately by SpaceX.
SpaceX has denied the report, calling the information "misleading" and asserting public safety is paramount.

Starship's Risky Flights

The incident in question occurred on January 16, when SpaceX's Starship experienced an engine malfunction shortly after liftoff from its Texas facility. The upper stage broke apart, scattering debris over Turks and Caicos. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) documents, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, reveal that this mishap created an "extreme safety risk" for three airplanes. These flights, including one bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico, had to navigate through a temporary no-fly debris zone to avoid running out of fuel. Alarmingly, two of the rerouted planes were forced into close proximity, raising concerns about a potential collision.

This is not the first time Starship test flights have disrupted air traffic. Previous launches have also led to the rerouting or delays of commercial flights. For instance, an earlier March flight was cut short by engine failure, leading to an explosion and a halt in air traffic in parts of Florida. Qantas Airlines also reportedly faced delays on routes between Australia and South Africa due to warnings covering large swathes of the Indian Ocean.

Allegations of Delayed Communication

The FAA documents obtained by The Wall Street Journal suggest that SpaceX may not have immediately notified air traffic controllers of the Starship's failure. Instead, Miami air traffic controllers were reportedly alerted to the falling debris when pilots themselves reported sightings and had to maneuver around it. This alleged delay in communication is a central point of contention in the report.

SpaceX's Rebuttal

SpaceX has strongly refuted the claims made in the report. In a statement on its X account, the company described the information as "incomplete and misleading," suggesting it was provided by "detractors with ulterior motives." SpaceX asserted that public safety is its "top priority" and that no aircraft were ever put at risk. The company maintains that all incidents involving vehicle debris were contained within pre-coordinated response areas established by the U.S. Space Force and implemented by the FAA. SpaceX further stated that these hazard areas are "conservatively broad" and that aircraft were "appropriately routed in real-time."

Despite these assurances, the report highlights ongoing concerns about the safety protocols surrounding Starship's increasingly frequent test flights as SpaceX aims to ramp up its launch cadence.

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