Elon Musk’s SpaceX faced a recent controversy as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) discovered that an exploding rocket had put the lives of hundreds of plane passengers at risk.
In January of this year, SpaceX conducted the seventh test of its uncrewed Starship rocket, the key vehicle for Musk’s ambitions of reaching Mars. Unfortunately, shortly after takeoff from Texas, the rocket exploded while flying over the Caribbean.
While mishaps during tests of uncrewed rockets are not uncommon, the January incident posed a severe threat, forcing three planes carrying a total of 450 passengers to alter their routes, with one plane making an emergency landing.
During the incident, one pilot had to declare an emergency and make a distress call to land at San Juan airport. The debris cloud remained in the air for about an hour, causing significant disruption. SpaceX had initially failed to inform FAA officials about the incident but later followed the recommendations provided by the FAA.
The explosion of the SpaceX rocket resulted in a widespread debris field, causing chaos in the local flight path and being visible from the ground. The rocket, which was supposed to be recovered upon return to its landing pad, ended up detonating over the Caribbean. The launch on January 16 from Boca Chica, Texas, showcased a dazzling lift-off before the rocket disintegrated in mid-air.