MIAMI – The famous words of Isaac Newton, “What goes up must come down,” ring true for airlines navigating over 2 billion passengers across North America. However, the presence of free-falling space debris can pose a significant challenge for these companies. While incidents involving space debris are not an everyday occurrence, they are becoming more frequent than one might expect. In the initial months of 2025, there were two notable incidents where a SpaceX rocket mishap led to commercial aircraft having to take evasive action, prompting alerts from the Federal Aviation Administration to pilots regarding the potential hazards. These episodes were related to test flights of SpaceX’s Starship rocket launched from Boca Chica, Texas, flying over Florida, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and the northern Caribbean. Videos captured after each incident by FOX Weather showed debris illuminating the sky and descending to the ground, leaving spectators in awe. Thankfully, no aircraft or bystanders were struck by the falling debris in either case, but thousands of passengers faced inconveniences with flights placed on hold or delayed until the situation was deemed safe.
The question arises: Who is accountable for flight disruptions caused by space debris? FOX Weather reached out to various impacted parties, but answers were scarce. Local airports, airlines, and even the FAA, responsible for notifying pilots about disruptions, were uncertain. The U.S. Department of Transportation simply acknowledged the inquiry without providing a concrete response.
Upon reviewing the updated U.S. DOT passenger Bill of Rights, surprising revelations emerged regarding compensation in such scenarios. The bill stipulates that if an airline cancels a flight or makes significant changes, regardless of the cause, passengers are entitled to a refund if they opt not to proceed with their journey. When cancellations occur due to factors beyond the airline’s control, carriers are mandated to offer alternatives like rebooking at no cost, meal vouchers, transport, accommodation, and more.
While falling space debris isn’t specifically addressed in the U.S. DOT guidelines, it likely falls under the category of “uncontrollable events.” Federal regulations do not mandate specific actions for airlines in such cases; instead, individual carriers set their policies for assisting delayed passengers. When faced with delays, passengers are advised to inquire about amenities or assistance from airline staff. Some airlines, especially those with low fares, may not provide accommodations in such circumstances. Ultimately, unpredictable events like extreme weather or national emergencies, including incidents like falling space debris, are considered beyond an airline’s control.
“SpaceX debris was spotted over the Bahamas on March 6, 2025. How Thunderstorms Hundreds Of Miles Away Can Disrupt Air Travel
International laws provide clear guidelines regarding space debris causing damage or injuries, although there have been no recent incidents of such occurrences. According to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, a launching State is fully responsible for compensating any damage caused by its space object on Earth’s surface or to aircraft in flight.
While the chances of being affected by falling space debris are still minimal, it is more probable than winning a major lottery prize, and the problem persists. Studies conducted at Canada’s University of British Columbia indicate that the threat of space debris is escalating rapidly. Analyzing air traffic data from 2023, researchers determined a 26% probability of rocket debris re-entering busy airspace, a figure that predates a series of SpaceX incidents.
Following recent events, SpaceX did not address any resulting delays passengers may have faced. After the March explosion, the company issued a brief statement stating that during Starship’s ascent burn, the vehicle experienced an unexpected disassembly, causing a loss of contact. SpaceX’s team promptly engaged with safety officials to execute pre-planned contingency measures and committed to analyzing the flight data to identify the underlying cause. The company emphasized that success is derived from lessons learned, and the flight would provide valuable insights to enhance Starship’s reliability.
Source: Who compensates my flight if it is delayed or canceled due to space debris?”
