the u.s. federal aviation administration (faa) announced on may 28 that it has officially classified spacex’s fifth starship test flight—its 12th overall mission—as an “accident” and ordered an immediate, comprehensive technical investigation. the flight took place on may 22, when the upgraded v3‑configured starship system, after completing stage separation, encountered a severe anomaly during its return phase: multiple raptor engines failed in succession, causing loss of attitude control, tumbling, and ultimately crashing into the gulf of mexico. although no injuries or damage to ground facilities occurred, the faa emphasized that this incident has triggered statutory accident investigation procedures, meaning all subsequent starship launches will remain suspended until the investigation report is submitted and corrective measures are approved.
notably, this test flight marked the first public demonstration of the v3‑version starship, featuring key upgrades such as third‑generation raptor engines, an improved thermal protection system, and a redesigned propellant management system. despite successfully entering orbit after passing through the peak dynamic pressure region, one engine shut down prematurely, forcing the cancellation of the planned orbital re‑ignition test. spacex acknowledged that frequent iterations and controlled failures are inevitable steps in developing a heavy‑lift, reusable rocket, with the goal of achieving high reliability and low‑cost launch capabilities comparable to those of the falcon 9. at present, the faa is leading and overseeing the investigation, though the final conclusions and the timeline for resuming flight certification remain unclear.
