A SpaceX Starship broke apart after launch, scattering debris off Florida’s coast and across the Caribbean, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to temporarily halt air traffic at four major Florida airports. The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of SpaceX’s rapid launch schedule and the risks posed by Elon Musk’s oversight of the program.
This marks the second time a Starship vehicle has disintegrated after reaching space, with multiple videos circulating on social media showing the craft breaking apart in a fiery explosion. The last similar failure occurred on January 16, after which the FAA required SpaceX to conduct a mishap investigation.
Just last week, the FAA lifted restrictions from the previous failure, allowing SpaceX to continue launches while the agency maintained oversight. However, following Thursday’s incident, the FAA announced that SpaceX will now be required to conduct another investigation into the latest Starship failure. Critics argue that Musk’s aggressive push for frequent launches is compromising safety, and they warn that continued mishaps could endanger planes, passengers, and people on the ground.
Despite the catastrophic loss of the spacecraft, SpaceX did manage to successfully recover the booster rocket, which safely reentered the atmosphere and was “caught” by a ground-based assembly known as “Mechazilla.” However, the Starship vehicle itself was seen spinning uncontrollably in space before ultimately breaking apart.
In a statement posted on X, SpaceX described the failure as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly” during Starship’s ascent burn, adding that the company lost contact with the vehicle before its destruction. SpaceX confirmed that it had immediately begun working with safety officials on its contingency response, a process that requires coordination and approval from the FAA.
The FAA’s response included grounding flights at multiple Florida airports for roughly 50 minutes, with Miami International Airport being the last to resume normal operations. The incident has further fueled criticism that Musk’s leadership is reckless, with some experts and aviation officials warning that his rushed approach to rocket development is creating unnecessary risks for air travel and public safety. As SpaceX continues its Starship program, federal regulators are now under pressure to impose stricter oversight before another mishap threatens lives.