The explosion of a SpaceX Starship rocket early this year over the Caribbean caused more midair mayhem for airlines than first thought.
It led to multiple flights having to change course leaving at least three aircraft potentially short on fuel.
A new Wall Street Journal report said air traffic controllers has to reroute several flights to avoid falling debris near Puerto Rico, citing internal Federal Aviation Administration documents.
The January 2025 explosion of SpaceX’s Starship happened minutes after its launch.
There was falling debris for up to 50 minutes over a wide area.
The FAA noted ‘potential extreme safety risk’
Multiple planes were diverted or placed in a holding pattern with a JetBlue, Iberia and a private jet close to a low fuel emergency situation.
Just after the explosion, air traffic controllers slowed or diverted traffic near Puerto Rico as a precaution.
Several pilots reported visible sightings of falling debris.
The FAA then issued temporary no-fly debris zone notices for inbound flights.
The JetBlue and Iberia flights were eventually able to land in Puerto Rico after low fuel emergencies were declared.
The WSJ also reported that the rerouting of flights led to two planes flying too close to each other, and a collision was averted by ATC action.
