WASHINGTON, January 16, 2025 — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a stark warning that commercial rocket launches could “significantly reduce safety” for airplanes, urging pilots to prepare for potential “catastrophic failures” and the creation of dangerous debris fields. The agency’s alert, dated January 8, comes as the aviation industry grapples with increasing launch activity and the inherent risks of space travel intersecting with established flight paths.
Growing Concerns Over Rocket Debris
The FAA’s warning highlights a previously unaddressed threat to air travel as space launches become more frequent.
- The FAA’s safety alert is the first to specifically address the danger posed by rocket launches and re-entry to commercial aviation in the last two decades.
- Pilots are being advised to exercise extreme caution near designated debris response areas (DRAs) and to maintain heightened situational awareness in areas without radar coverage.
- SpaceX, a major player in the launch industry, is seeking approval for increased launch trajectories that could further impact air traffic.
The official notice, known as a safety alert for operators, was released the same day an investigation revealed how pilots scrambled to avoid debris after two SpaceX Starship megarockets exploded over busy airspace last year. The alert acknowledged that travelers were at risk during those events, when the FAA rapidly activated no-fly zones to divert planes away from falling rocket parts.
What are debris response areas? These are emergency no-fly zones created by the FAA to protect aircraft from falling debris during rocket launches and re-entries.
In the past two decades, the FAA has issued approximately 245 safety alerts addressing issues ranging from runway hazards to mechanical malfunctions. However, this recent warning marks the first time the agency has directly addressed the risks to airplanes posed by rocket launches or atmospheric re-entry, according to the FAA’s website.
SpaceX and other companies have significantly increased launch frequency in recent years. Starship, designed for eventual lunar landings, follows a flight path that traverses heavily trafficked commercial airways in the Caribbean. The FAA previously stated it “limits the number of aircraft exposed to the hazards, making the likelihood of a catastrophic event extremely improbable,” and that it proactively informs pilots and ensures safety during launches through measures like establishing debris response areas.
The January alert reiterated these procedures, stating, “Past events have shown that when a mishap does occur, debris has fallen within or near the DRA, and pilots should exercise extreme caution near these areas.” However, the notice also cautioned that debris can fall outside of established no-fly zones, particularly in international airspace lacking radar coverage, requiring pilots to maintain “additional situational awareness.”
Neither SpaceX nor the FAA has publicly released data detailing the debris fallout from last year’s Starship explosions.
SpaceX did not respond to requests for comment. The company has previously emphasized its commitment to learning from setbacks and improving Starship’s reliability. In a December post on X, SpaceX stated, “SpaceX is committed to responsibly using airspace during launches and reentries, prioritizing public safety to protect people on the ground, at sea, and in the air.”
Last year, the FAA authorized SpaceX to conduct up to 25 Starship launches annually from its Texas facility. However, due to repeated challenges, only five of the massive vehicles successfully lifted off in 2025.
The FAA’s warning urged aircraft operators to “evaluate the impact of space launch and reentry operations on their planned flight routes and take appropriate precautionary measures,” including ensuring sufficient fuel reserves in case of holding patterns imposed by air traffic control. An investigation found that several airplanes experienced low fuel levels following the January 2025 Starship incident, with at least one aircraft declaring an emergency and crossing the no-fly zone to reach an airport.
The world’s largest pilots union communicated its concerns to the FAA in October, questioning whether a “suitable process” is in place to respond to unexpected rocket mishaps. “There is high potential for debris striking an aircraft resulting in devastating loss of the aircraft, flight crew, and passengers,” wrote Steve Jangelis, a pilot and the group’s aviation safety chair.
The FAA adjusted its procedures throughout the failed launches last year but continued to permit SpaceX to launch additional Starship prototypes over the same airspace, adding strain to the already burdened air traffic control system. The Wall Street Journal reported in December that an air traffic controller intervened to prevent a potential collision when two aircraft flew too close to each other following one of the explosions.
The FAA did not respond to requests for comment.
Airlines for America, a trade association representing leading U.S. airlines, affirmed its “commitment to ensuring the safety of all flights especially amid the growing number of space launches.” The association stated that airlines collaborate with the federal government and commercial space companies to maintain airspace safety.
Rep. Nellie Pou of New Jersey, a Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s aviation panel, praised the FAA for issuing the warning, stating that the administration “must protect American travelers from all threats, including space launches and reentry operations.”
“Perfect safety demands scrupulous and forward-looking attention to detail from our federal agencies and close coordination with operators,” Pou said. “I am heartened FAA is showing both here.”
An analysis of flight tracking data revealed that multiple planes were within projected debris zones during the January and March 2024 Starship explosions, and others likely altered course to avoid falling debris. Pilots reported observing flaming streaks high above the horizon.
Prior to the third Starship launch in May, the agency adopted a more conservative approach, proactively closing more airspace. That mission also failed, with the rocket’s booster exploding over the Gulf and its upper stage detonating over the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX is currently seeking FAA approval for new launch trajectories, which would involve the rocket flying over land in Florida and Mexico, as well as the airspace of Cuba, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands, potentially disrupting hundreds of flights. The company maintains its commitment to public safety as it increases launch frequency, stating on X that it “will continue to ensure maximum public safety while also working to integrate Starship more efficiently into the airspace.”
