Pilots Getting Worried About SpaceX Tests

A Delta flight from Puerto Rico to Atlanta had to take an unscheduled detour last January for an unusual reason: to avoid debris from the explosion of a massive SpaceX rocket. As a ProPublica investigation reveals, the Delta pilots were not the only ones to get the warning from air traffic controllers. At least 20 airliners over the Caribbean were forced to make "sudden turns" because of the explosion. What's more, it was only one of three Starship test flight explosions out of Texas last year. "And while no aircraft collided with rocket parts, pilots were forced to scramble for safety," write Heather Vogell and Agnel Philip. The story takes a deep look at the issue, noting that the FAA predicted only "minor or minimal" impact on air travel when it approved the SpaceX launches.

The "reality has been far different," the story asserts. "I'm sorry to report that we have to turn around because we're too close to the debris," the pilot of a Frontier Airlines informed passengers on a March flight after a Starship explosion. Pilots fear it's only a matter of time before disaster ensues. The Air Line Pilots Association warns of a "high potential" for debris to destroy an airliner and called the FAA's dual role of overseeing safety while promoting and regulating commercial space a "direct conflict of interest." The group has urged a halt to Starship tests, but the FAA has declined to take that action.

In response to questions, the agency said it "limits the number of aircraft exposed to the hazards, making the likelihood of a catastrophic event extremely improbable." Expect the issue to intensify: SpaceX is seeking permission for new trajectories over Florida, Mexico, and additional Caribbean airspace. Read the full story.