The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a stark warning that rocket launches could “significantly reduce the safety” of planes, urging pilots to prepare for the possibility that “catastrophic failures” could create dangerous debris fields.
The official noticeknown as a security alert for operators, was dated January 8, the same day ProPublica published an investigation showing how the pilots rushed to avoid debris after two SpaceX Starship megarockets exploded above busy airspace last year. The alert was an acknowledgment that travelers were in danger on those days, when the FAA hastily activated no-fly zones to help air traffic controllers keep planes away from falling rocket parts.
Over the past two decades, the agency has issued about 245 such safety alerts to the aviation community on issues ranging from runway threats to mechanical problems, but last month’s warning is the first to address the danger to aircraft when rockets are launched or re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. according to the FAA website.
SpaceX and other companies have accelerated launches in recent years. Starship, a version of which is expected to one day land on the moon, has followed a flight path that skims the busy commercial airways of the Caribbean.
The FAA previously told ProPublica that it “limits the number of aircraft exposed to hazards, making the likelihood of a catastrophic event extremely unlikely.” It also said it was taking steps to keep pilots informed and keep planes safe during launches, such as creating emergency no-fly zones, known as debris response zones.
The January alert also highlighted these procedures.
“Past events have shown that when an accident occurs, debris has fallen in or near the DRA, and pilots should use extreme caution near these areas,” the advisory states.
But he warned that debris can fall in places where the FAA does not impose no-fly zones, such as in international airspace over oceans without radar coverage, saying pilots must have “additional situational awareness” to avoid debris fields.
Neither SpaceX nor the FAA have released data showing where debris fell after the Starship explosions last year.
SpaceX did not respond to a request for comment. Previously, the company said it learns from mistakes and that each test improves Starship’s reliability. “SpaceX is committed to the responsible use of airspace during launches and reentries, prioritizing public safety to protect people on the ground, at sea and in the air,” he said on X in December.
Last year, the FAA granted SpaceX permission to launch Starship up to 25 times a year from its base in Texas. But after repeated setbacks, only five of the giant space vehicles took off in 2025.
In its warning, the FAA urged aircraft operators to “evaluate the impact of launch and space re-entry operations on their planned flight routes and take appropriate precautionary measures.” In particular, it would be necessary to ensure that they have sufficient fuel in case air traffic controllers place them in a holding pattern, the agency said. In its investigation, ProPublica found that several planes began running low on fuel after the January 2025 Starship incident, with at least one declaring an emergency and flying through the no-fly zone to reach an airport.
The world’s largest pilots union told the FAA in October that such events call into question whether “an appropriate process” is in place to respond to unexpected rocket accidents. “There is a high risk that debris could strike an aircraft, causing devastating losses to the aircraft, flight crew and passengers,” wrote Steve Jangelis, pilot and president of aviation safety for the group.
The FAA adjusted its practices during last year’s failed launches but still allowed SpaceX to launch more Starship prototypes over the same airspace, adding stress to the already strained air traffic control system, ProPublica found. The Wall Street Journal reported in December that an air traffic controller had to intervene to avoid a collision when two or more planes were flying too close to each other after one of the explosions.
The FAA did not respond to requests for comment for this story.
Airlines for America, a trade association for major U.S. airlines, said it was “committed to ensuring the safety of all flights, especially amid the growing number of space launches.” The association said in a statement that airlines are coordinating with the federal government and commercial space companies to ensure airspace security.
Rep. Nellie Pou of New Jersey, a Democratic member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Committee, applauded the FAA for issuing the warning, saying the Trump administration “must protect American travelers from all threats, including space launches and re-entry operations.”
“Perfect security requires scrupulous, forward-looking attention to detail on the part of our federal agencies and close coordination with operators,” Pou said. “I’m heartened by the FAA showing both here.”
The Jan. 8 ProPublica article showed how planes had to maneuver quickly to clear large swaths of airspace after SpaceX ships exploded over the Caribbean in January and March of last year.
Learn more
Our analysis of flight tracking data revealed that in each incident, several aircraft were in the areas of flying debris at the time of the explosions and others likely had to change course to avoid falling debris. Pilots reported seeing trails of flame well above the horizon.
Before Starship’s third launch last year, in May, the agency opted for a more conservative approach, proactively closing more airspace in advance. That mission also failed, with the rocket’s booster exploding over the Gulf and its upper stage over the Indian Ocean.
SpaceX is now seeking FAA approval to add new trajectories as Starship strives to reach orbit. Under the plan, the rocket would fly over land in Florida and Mexico, as well as the airspace of Cuba, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, likely disrupting hundreds of flights.
The company says it is committed to public safety as it accelerates its launch cadence, saying in a post on that it will “continue to ensure maximum public safety while also working to integrate Starship more effectively into the airspace.”