SpaceX Launches & Flight Disruptions: Extraordinary Circumstances or Avoidable Delays?

Written By Joanna Teljeur

7 minutes read
Last Updated: 25 March 2025

On March 5, 2025, SpaceX’s Starship exploded over the Caribbean Sea, disrupting approximately 240 flights across Florida airports as a result. Of the disruptions, 171 flights were delayed by 28 minutes on average, 28 flights were diverted, and 40 flights were put on airborne holding patterns. 

In January 2025, another SpaceX explosion happened over the Turks and Caicos Islands, which led to the FAA halting flights in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Palm Beach, and Orlando because of space launch debris. The delay time for this event averaged 45 minutes.

Whether it’s commercial space travel or satellite launches, space exploration is on the rise, bringing up an important question: Are airlines responsible for the delays and cancellations that happen as a result? Also, are travelers entitled to any form of compensation when their flights are disrupted because of rocket launches and re-entries? 

In this guide, we’re going to explore this question to find out if SpaceX and other rocket launches are considered an extraordinary circumstance or an avoidable event that could lead to compensation payouts. 

Why Space Launches & Rocket Re-entry Affect Flights

Flights are affected by rocket launches and re-entries because of the airspace restrictions, debris risk and rerouting that ensures passenger safety. 

• Airspace Restrictions: Before a rocket launches, the Federal Aviation Administration will create no-fly zones, meaning that all flights will need to avoid these areas, even if that means canceling or delaying flights. 
• Debris Fallout: Launches and uncontrolled re-entry can create a large amount of debris that is difficult to plan around. Nothing can predict with absolute certainty where it will fall.
• More Air Traffic Congestion: No fly zones and last minute restrictions force airlines to delay and re-route flights, creating a ripple effect that can affect multiple carriers in various countries. 

It can be easy to underestimate how many passengers are affected by flight disruptions that follow rocket launches and re-entries, but it extends beyond delays and cancellations. Countless travelers will also miss connections or face involuntary denied boarding as re-routed passengers take up the space on already full flights. 

Can You Get Compensation for SpaceX Flight Disruptions?

Flights in the United States

The U.S. Department of Transportation does not require airlines to compensate passengers for flight interruptions within the United States, but this changes on international flights, depending on the airline.

Flights in the EU and UK

In the European Union and United Kingdom, air passenger rights regulations EU261 and UK261 require airlines to provide cash compensation to passengers for flight delays. So, if your flight is delayed by a SpaceX launch, and you arrive more than 3 hours late, you could get as much as $650 as long as the airline is at fault. 

You can also get compensated for last-minute cancellations, but again, this is based on airline culpability. Was the airline to blame for a rocket launch that was announced months or even years ahead of time? Did they do everything possible to avoid or prevent the disruption? You can see how this gets sticky.

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How Your Airline and Flight Route Affect Compensation

Domestic fights in Europe and the UK might not be directly affected by rocket launches, and flights within the US might not be eligible for compensation, but this all changes with international flights.

Flights from the US to Europe with a UK/EU Airline

If you have a severely delayed flight from Miami to London that arrives 4 hours late because of a SpaceX launch, you would be eligible for compensation if you fly with an EU or UK carrier like British Airways. Why? Because air passenger rights regulations, in those regions, protect flights operated by EU or UK carriers whenever they arrive or depart from the EU or UK.

Flights from the US to Europe with a US Airline

On the other hand, if you flew the same route with Delta, you would not be eligible for compensation because Delta is based in the US, and in this case, departing from a US airport, meaning the flight falls under the jurisdiction of the US DOT rules.

Flights from Europe to the US on any Airline

Conversely, if you were flying from London to Miami, and you had a 4 hour delay because of a SpaceX launch, you would be eligible for cash compensation regardless of the airline. AIr passenger rights regulations in the EU and the UK cover all flights departing from airports in those regions no matter which airline is operating the flight.

So, your eligibility for SpaceX flight disruptions depends on:

• The airline
• The route, and
• The culpability of the airline for the delay or cancellation.

Who's Responsible for Flight Disruptions and Compensation?

It’s important for both airlines and passengers to know who is responsible for flight interruptions. While US-based travelers might not benefit from this knowledge, international passengers could receive compensation if the airline is at fault. The trouble is that the blame can be easily passed from one party to another.

SpaceX and other companies

SpaceX and other companies could easily be blamed for flight interruptions. But they could just as easily push back, saying they give airlines ample time to schedule and plan around launches and re-entires. 

Air traffic control

Air traffic control could be blamed for restricting air space, but they issue restrictions based on guidance from the aviation enforcement bodies. Also, the decisions they make are safety-based and affect multiple airlines.

Airlines

So what about the airlines? They get plenty of time to schedule and plan around the rocket launch, but if something goes wrong, like an explosion or an uncontrolled re-entry, then they have no choice but to make last minute changes to flights.

Generally, courts tend to side with the airlines, arguing that SpaceX launches are announced far in advance, but carriers do everything possible to avoid or prevent flight disruptions caused by them. Because of this, these events will be deemed an extraordinary circumstance. 

Can Passengers Claim Any Type of Compensation? 

You might not qualify for cash compensation if your flight is disrupted by a rocket launch, but you can receive some assistance if you are flying with an EU or UK airline or departing from those regions.

• Free meals and refreshments if your delay lasts at least 2 hours 
• Hotel accommodation if you have to wait overnight, including transportation to the hotel and back
• Free access to communication (2 free calls, emails, or wi-fi access)

You are also entitled to choose between a free rebooking or a ticket refund if your flight is canceled or severely delayed, regardless of the airline or where you are traveling.

• Domestic US flights: Delays of 3+ hours qualify for a refund or a rebooking
• International Flights from the US: Delays of 6+ hours qualify for a refund or a rebooking
• EU or UK flights: Delays of 5+ hours qualify for a refund or a rebooking

What Can You Do to Minimize SpaceX Flight Disruptions

Space launches are happening more frequently, and it’s safe to say we will see more of them in the future. So, to avoid the impacts of disrupted flights caused by these events, here’s what you should do.

1. Choose your airport wisely. Airports in Florida, Texas, and California are more likely to be affected by rocket launches.
2. Review airline policies for air traffic control delays.
3. Learn your passenger rights. 
4. Consider travel insurance to cover the costs associated with flight disruptions caused by space launches.
5. Check your credit card to see if it protects you or provides trip interruption coverage.
6. Check sites like RocketLaunch.Live so you can plan around scheduled launches.

Bottom Line

Space travel is exciting, but as it increases it will also affect commercial aviation. With more launches and re-entries, passengers can expect more disruptions as a result. Because of this, space companies, airlines, air traffic control and aviation authorities will need to re-assess how they manage flight disruptions and compensation for affected passengers.

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