BREAKING: Ground Stop Issued at Orlando Airport due to “Space Launch Debris”

All flights into Orlando International Airport, along with other Florida airports, are on hold at this time.

Orlando International Airport

Flights into additional cities along Florida’s East Coast — including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach — are also in a ground stop until 8 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, March 6th.

At 6:30 PM tonight, SpaceX launched a Starship vehicle from Brownsville, Texas. A few minutes after launch, the Starship spun out of control, with debris falling into the Atlantic Ocean, according to ABC News.

The FAA then issued its ground stop because of “space launch debris” in the area.

Operational Update: Per the @FAANews, our airport is currently under a Ground Stop due to space launch debris in the area. For airport delays, visit: https://t.co/JKuNBVb9Fl, and please check directly with your airline for further updates.

— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) March 7, 2025

There have been 176 flight delays at Orlando International Airport today, according to FlightAware.

FlightAware

SpaceX issued a statement on X shortly after the launch, saying: “During Starship’s ascent burn, the vehicle experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly and contact was lost. Our team immediately began coordination with safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses.”

This was an unmanned flight.

NBC Miami is reporting that residents from around South Florida spotted flaming debris in the sky after the Starship broke apart. Debris was also spotted by people in the Bahamas.

Keep following Disney Food Blog for the latest Orlando Airport news.