FAA records reveal near-miss as SpaceX Starship test explodes over Caribbean

WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration released documents detailing how a SpaceX Starship test flight in January was destroyed less than 10 minutes after liftoff and posed a potential hazard to three commercial flights over the Caribbean.

The seventh uncrewed Starship test flight was part of Elon Musk's ongoing effort to make life on Mars a reality and occurred days before he launched the Department of Government Efficiency in President Donald Trumps White House. The test drew attention from multiple commercial aircraft as debris may have spread across the area for nearly an hour. A JetBlue flight bound for San Juan and two other planes were forced to alter courses, with crews reporting fuel emergencies and maneuvering to avoid a debris field. In at least one exchange, air traffic control instructed the pilots that landing in San Juan could require declaring an emergency, and the crew replied with a Mayday call. The three aircraft together carried about 450 people and ultimately landed safely after entering a temporary no-fly zone.

The FAA said SpaceX failed to immediately call an official hotline required for reporting failures to air traffic controllers. In Miami, controllers learned of the debris only after pilots reported the situation as they navigated through the debris field. FAA officials began examining how to better manage debris from explosions in February, with renewed concern after another SpaceX test vehicle exploded in March. The agency ended the review in March, saying its recommendations had already been implemented and that further coordination would occur outside the United States, while stressing it would act if additional safety measures were needed. The FAA also stated it would stay vigilant as it contemplates a path toward a high launch cadence, aiming for 200 to 400 rocket launches annually, many of which could involve SpaceXs Starship.

SpaceX declined comment. A JetBlue spokesperson said the airline was confident the flights avoided debris and landed safely. The January test ship, a new-generation Starship built taller at about 403 feet and capable of carrying more propellant, was described by SpaceX after launch as featuring significant upgrades. The company said the second-stage booster catch was also pursued during the flight, and that hardware upgrades to the launch and catch tower were intended to increase reliability for booster catch. SpaceX noted sensor protections on the chopped handling arms damaged in the last launch and a redesigned upper-stage propulsion system that can carry roughly 25 percent more propellant, along with slimmer, repositioned forward flaps meant to reduce heat exposure during reentry. The mission also included ten dummy satellites intended to be released in orbit for a future SpaceX plan that would end in their destruction upon reentry. SpaceX described the flight as an opportunity to test Starships first payload deployment, multiple reentry experiments geared toward ship catch and reuse, and the return of the Super Heavy booster.

"Todays flight test will launch a new generation ship with significant upgrades, attempt Starships first payload deployment test, fly multiple reentry experiments geared towards ship catch and reuse, and launch and return the Super Heavy booster," SpaceX posted after liftoff, framing the mission as a step toward Mars. Musk later wrote on X that, while success is not guaranteed, the endeavor would yield entertainment value.

The last SpaceX launch before this test occurred in October, when the fifth flight test reached orbit and the booster splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico. The sixth flight, witnessed by President-elect Trump in November, ended with a controlled splashdown in the Gulf after a test flight. The January attempt represented a different phase in SpaceXs drive to scale up Starship as a potential workhorse for rapid, high-volume launches, including as a possible Mars-transfer system.

As the agency reviews the episode and prepares for future launches, SpaceX has emphasized improvements and upgrades designed to boost Starship reliability and cargo capacity. The company has not described any changes in response to the FAA findings beyond those already announced, but the FAAs statements suggest a continued emphasis on safety amid a plan to expand launches dramatically in the coming years.