The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration reported that an explosion during a SpaceX Starship test disrupted approximately 240 flights yesterday.
The incident, which marked the second consecutive explosion of a SpaceX test launch, led to widespread delays and diversions as safety protocols were activated due to concerns over space debris.
According to FAA data, ground stops were issued for flights departing from four Florida airports—Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Palm Beach. The disruption resulted in 171 departure delays with an average delay of 28 minutes, 28 flights were diverted, and 40 airborne flights were held for an average of 22 minutes while the agency’s Debris Response Area was active.
In addition to the immediate operational impact, the FAA has directed SpaceX to conduct a mishap investigation into the loss of the Starship vehicle. The agency confirmed that, while reviewing SpaceX’s license application and preliminary findings from its investigation into the previous Starship failure, it approved the launch license for this test flight last month.
Social media footage captured fiery debris streaking across the skies near South Florida and the Bahamas, while live streams from SpaceX showed the Starship vehicle breaking up in space shortly after entering an uncontrolled spin and cutting off its engines.
The eighth test flight’s explosive failure comes just over a month after the seventh test met a similar fate, marking a setback for a program that CEO Elon Musk has been keen to accelerate. Despite the setback, Musk described the incident as “a minor setback” on Friday and stated on his social media platform X, “Progress is measured by time. The next ship will be ready in 4 to 6 weeks.” The 403-foot (123-meter) rocket system is a key component of Musk’s ambitious plans to send humans to Mars in the near future.
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A Russia-flagged tanker carrying about 700,000 barrels of crude has arrived in Cuba’s Matanzas Bay, marking the first major oil delivery to the island since the Trump administration cut off its fuel supplies.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
The U.S. Congress failed on Friday (27 March) to resolve a six-week funding impasse that has disrupted airports and left tens of thousands of federal workers without pay, raising fears of further travel chaos during the busy spring break period.
Iranian President Pezeshkian has confirmed the killing of intelligence minister Esmail Khatib calling it a "cowardly assassination", following reports that Israel carried out an overnight strike.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
The war in Iran has rapidly upended regional security, triggering spillover across the Middle East and raising fears of wider economic disruption that could threaten globalisation.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
A Russia-flagged tanker carrying about 700,000 barrels of crude has arrived in Cuba’s Matanzas Bay, marking the first major oil delivery to the island since the Trump administration cut off its fuel supplies.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre and to voice their support for Ukraine, amid tensions within the bloc over blocked EU aid.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 31 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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