SpaceX has strongly disputed claims that an early-year Starship test explosion put commercial aircraft in serious danger, accusing the Wall Street Journal of publishing a misleading account based on incomplete information.
The WSJ reported that FAA documents showed the January 16 launch failure sent burning debris across parts of the Caribbean for nearly an hour, forcing air-traffic controllers to intervene as passenger planes approached restricted airspace and, in some cases, declared fuel emergencies.
According to the report one JetBlue flight was warned it was nearing a hazard zone and told to proceed “at your own risk,” while another FAA account described two aircraft flying dangerously close, prompting controller action to avoid a collision.
SpaceX rejected the portrayal, saying it was “clearly spoon-fed incomplete and misleading information from detractors with ulterior motives,” and insisted no aircraft were ever in danger.
In a statement posted on X, the company said all debris events were contained within pre-planned response zones coordinated with the FAA and the US Space Force, stressing that public safety remains its top priority. Despite the contrasting accounts, all affected flights, including services operated by JetBlue and Iberia, landed safely.
SpaceX Starship explosion seen from flight FL410!
📹: heyitsnicolew pic.twitter.com/792pGDlSYh
— BladudX (@BladudX) July 20, 2025
