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The Federal Aviation Administration today formally warned aircraft operators and owners of the risks of falling space debris that result from “catastrophic failures” of space launches.
In its first official warning on the topic, the agency issued a Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO) recommending that operators train flight crews “on the impact of space launch and reentry operations” which it said “could significantly reduce safety.” The SAFO said “pilots should exercise extreme caution” around debris response areas (DRAs) designated in the aftermath of a space launch incident.
The SAFO reminded operators to take several “precautionary” measures, including ensuring that proper fuel reserves are carried in the event of incident-related holding as well as reviewing plans for diversions, cancellations or rerouting. It added that crews should recognize falling debris could “extend beyond” the DRA, something which would require “additional situational awareness.” DRAs are not currently issued for oceanic or non-radar airspace, despite those areas potentially being affected by falling debris.
The SAFO comes amid a rise in rocket launches that have increased scrutiny on the FAA for its oversight of commercial space operators. The Wall Street Journal reported in December that a 2025 explosion of a SpaceX Starship test flight over the Caribbean created what internal FAA documents called a “potential extreme safety risk” to aircraft passing underneath the launch trajectory, concerns which were echoed by a ProPublica investigation published this week.
The Air Current has reached out to the FAA and SpaceX for comment.
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