• The US Federal Aviation Administration and Turks and Caicos officials are investigating a SpaceX rocket failure that led to debris falling over the islands.
• Around eight minutes into its flight, SpaceX's upgraded Starship experienced an explosion, causing a scattering of debris in the Caribbean.
• Residents reported intense ground shaking and loud booms from the debris as it broke the sound barrier during its descent.
• There were no reports of injuries, but property damage is being assessed and a multi-agency investigation is underway.

The investigations launched by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and officials from the Turks and Caicos Islands are a direct response to an incident involving SpaceX's Starship rocket. The upgraded version of the rocket exploded roughly eight minutes into its flight test from Texas, resulting in debris raining down over northern Caribbean islands, forcing numerous airlines to reroute flights. According to the FAA, there are currently no reports of public injury, but efforts are underway to assess any public property damage attributed to the debris from the explosion.

Residents of the South and North Caicos islands described a jarring experience, with intense rumbling shaking the ground. One resident, Veuleiri Artiles, relayed how her “mirror and the walls were shaking” as the debris fell, comparing it to the sensation of being on an airplane. Similarly, Ibalor Calucin noted that it “felt like an earthquake”, prompting many residents to flee to the safety of parking lots amid the chaos.

According to Fitz Bailey, commissioner of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, a “multi-agency investigation” is currently in progress to address the aftermath of this event, although he refrained from commenting on specific reports of property damage. Seismic data analyzed by Johns Hopkins University indicated that the ground movement associated with the falling debris was significant, measuring at about 10 mm per second, comparable to a small earthquake. Benjamin Fernando, a seismology researcher, confirmed the notable seismic activity caused by the explosive debris plunging through the atmosphere.

The Starship rocket had embarked on its flight from Boca Chica, Texas, earlier in the day and was set to engage several new features and deploy mock satellites in a suborbital trajectory. However, after successfully separating from its Super Heavy booster, SpaceX lost contact with the rocket shortly thereafter. Initial assessments indicated that a fire ignited in the aft section of the vehicle, resulting in what SpaceX characterized as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly”.

Further details are awaited as the investigation unfolds, highlighting potential impacts on the safety regulations surrounding private rocket launches and the technology behind them.