The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and authorities in the Turks and Caicos Islands have initiated investigations into SpaceX’s Starship test flight, which ended in an explosion. The incident sent debris streaking across the northern Caribbean and caused airlines to reroute dozens of flights.
“There are no reports of public injury, and the FAA is working with SpaceX and appropriate authorities to confirm reports of public property damage on Turks and Caicos,” the FAA stated.
On Thursday, an upgraded version of SpaceX’s Starship exploded over the Bahamas about eight minutes into its seventh test flight from Texas. The explosion scattered fiery debris across the skies over Turks and Caicos, startling residents.
Locals from South and North Caicos islands described intense rumbling and shaking. Veuleiri Artiles, who was in South Caicos at the time, said, “My mirror and the walls were shaking. It was like when you’re on an airplane… my ears were rattling.” Another resident, Ibalor Calucin from Providenciales island, remarked, “It felt like an earthquake. It was scary… everyone in our apartment ran to the parking lot.”
According to Fitz Bailey, commissioner of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, a “multi-agency investigation” is ongoing. He did not comment on the extent of property damage.
Seismology researcher Benjamin Fernando of Johns Hopkins University analyzed ground sensor data and attributed the rumbling to debris breaking the sound barrier. “The ground motion was about 10 millimeters per second, which is comparable to a small earthquake,” Fernando explained.
The ill-fated Starship carried new onboard features and mock satellites. After launching from Boca Chica, Texas, it lost communication shortly after separating from its Super Heavy booster. SpaceX later reported a fire in the ship’s aft section, resulting in what it called a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.”