Dozens of Flights Diverted Over Falling Rocket Debris From SpaceX's Failed Starship Launch

SpaceX's Starship rocket broke apart mid-air during its test launch, causing flight disruptions in the Texas area.

By Thea Felicity

Jan 17 2025, 09:20 AM EST

US-JAPAN-SPACE-MOON-FIREFLY-ISPACE — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost and ispace's Resilience lunar landers, soars into orbit after lifting off from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 15, 2025. USA's Firefly and Japan's ispace aim to build on the success of Texas-based Intuitive Machines, which last year became the first company to successfully touch down on Earth's celestial neighbor. GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty Images

Dozens of commercial flights were disrupted on Thursday as SpaceX's Starship rocket disintegrated during its test launch, forcing the FAA to issue a warning to pilots who might need to steer clear of plummeting debris.

The disruption was primarily around the Brownsville, Texas area where it launched to the east over the Gulf of Mexico.

The FAA acted swiftly by slowing down air traffic and diverting planes from the "dangerous area" where rocket debris was expected to fall, per CNBC. The warning about the space vehicle's debris caused a ripple effect in air traffic, with multiple flights being rerouted. Sources revealed that this caused delays among several commercial flights, disrupting the travel plans of those departing Florida.

One of the most affected was the disruption to a JetBlue Airways flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida heading to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The plane had to head back nearly two hours into the flight after the FAA issued the alert. Other aircraft included a FedEx cargo jet and a Spirit Airlines flight, according to flight-tracking data. The FAA stated that there were no reports of injury or property damage due to falling debris.

According to SpaceX's X account, its Starship rocket broke apart in mid-air. However, the company stated that it would further analyze the test data to determine what caused the failure. The rocket launched from SpaceX facility in Brownsville, Texas. This rocket formed part of SpaceX's testing and refining procedures of its space vehicle. Even with the failure, the rocket caused a bit of disruption to the flight, yet SpaceX did not immediately respond to requests sent to comment on the issues.

The situation showed the crowded airspace, especially near Florida, where commercial and private flights operate in the same airspace. Airlines, including American Airlines, reported fewer diversions, with most of the disruptions affecting flights near the launch area.