Does SpaceX Have To Compensate Passengers Who Were Affected By Its Failed Launch?

On March 6, a failed SpaceX launch in Florida caused multiple airports to temporarily halt flights. Debris from the SpaceX Starship rocket spun into the air, raising concerns over the safety of flights in the region. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered ground stops at Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Miami International Airport (MIA), which lasted as long as 30 minutes.

The delays also affected Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI). Although a relatively short delay, thousands of passengers were affected across Florida airports. The question arises: who is responsible for the delays? Do passengers get compensation by the airline? Does SpaceX have to compensate the passengers affected for this reason? The short answer is no, but this can certainly be contested at a higher level.

When do passengers get compensated? The United States Department of Transportation (DoT) mandates airlines to compensate passengers for delays caused by the airline. Examples of such include mechanical failure of the aircraft, unavailability of the crew, etc. However, airlines are not liable for compensation when flight disruptions are outside the airline's control, such as extreme weather, airspace delays, or safety concerns.

So, does SpaceX compensate passengers for the delay? While the US DoT does not exclusively specify delays caused by falling debris in the sky, the reason falls under flight safety. Moreover, the compl.