The FAA says it has grounded the Starship vehicle pending a mishap investigation, and it is working with the company to assess reports of property damage in Turks and Caicos.

Commercial airlines had to divert or delay their flights to avoid debris from the SpaceX Starship spacecraft that exploded Thursday during a flight test.

Video captured by Reuters showed orange balls of light streaking across the sky over the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, leaving trails of smoke behind

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a launch license for the next Starship flight test on Dec. 17, clearing the way for SpaceX to once again launch the world's largest rocket from south Texas. Ever since, SpaceX has been rapidly preparing for the seventh overall flight test of the 400-foot-tall Starship.

SpaceX's Starship rocket disintegrated mid-flight shortly after launching from Texas on Thursday, prompting rerouted airline flights over the Gulf of Mexico to avoid debris and dealing a significant setback to Elon Musk’s ambitious space exploration plans.

SpaceX's Starship rocket broke apart mid-flight after launching from Texas, disrupting air travel and delaying Mars mission goals.

"During the event, the FAA activated a Debris Response Area and briefly slowed aircraft outside the area where space vehicle debris was falling or stopped aircraft at their departure location."

A SpaceX Starship rocket broke up in space minutes after launching from Texas on Thursday, forcing airline flights over the Gulf of Mexico to alter course to avoid falling debris and setting back Elon Musk's flagship rocket program.

SpaceX lost contact with Starship and discovered it exploded. Meanwhile, Musk says "success is uncertain, but entertainment is guaranteed!"

The upper stage of SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded minutes after launch from Texas on Thursday, leading the aerospace company to declare the vessel a "loss" in the seventh test flight of the heavy-lift spacecraft.

SpaceX is preparing for Starship's seventh flight test Monday afternoon from Starbase in Boca Chica near Brownsville. See the full launch schedule.