SpaceX Rocket Debris Causes Flight Delays in South Africa | Qantas has announced last-minute delays for several flights to South Africa, attributed to warnings of falling debris from SpaceX rockets re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
Ben Holland, head of Qantas’s operations centre, stated that the unpredictability of the re-entry zones over the southern Indian Ocean, chosen for its remoteness, has significantly impacted flight schedules on the Sydney-Johannesburg route.
“In recent weeks, we have delayed multiple flights between Johannesburg and Sydney due to alerts from the US Government concerning the re-entry of SpaceX rockets in a wide area over the Southern Indian Ocean,” Holland said.
While the airline aims to provide advance notice for schedule changes, late adjustments to launch timings have forced delays close to departure times. “Our teams work diligently to inform customers of any flight changes as soon as we are aware of them,” he added.
Although flight warnings include specific geographical coordinates and re-entry timings, these details can change on short notice, sometimes right before departure.
“Passengers generally understand that these circumstances are beyond the airline’s control, and we cannot operate in the area during rocket re-entries,” Holland noted.
Qantas continues to communicate with SpaceX to seek improvements in the consistency of re-entry locations and timings in an effort to reduce future disruptions for passengers.
AviationGhana | SpaceX Rocket Debris Causes Flight Delays in South Africa
