Musk Sends Starlink Terminals to FAA Amid Air Safety Concerns

Elon Musk announced on X that he’s dispatching his Starlink satellite internet terminals to the Federal Aviation Administration, claiming that current technology poses a risk to air travel safety—though he offered no supporting evidence. Despite these assertions, executives at major airlines told CNBC they do not view the FAA’s existing infrastructure as an immediate safety risk.

The FAA, which oversees Musk’s SpaceX, confirmed that it has been testing Starlink at select sites, including a facility in Atlantic City and non-safety critical sites in Alaska. The agency noted that it has been evaluating Starlink’s potential use since the prior administration, particularly to bolster operations in remote locations.

Musk’s comments came on the heels of reports suggesting the FAA is close to canceling a Verizon contract for new air traffic control communications technology in favor of Starlink. Musk claimed that Verizon’s system was “breaking down very rapidly,” later amending his statement to point to L3Harris, which currently manages the legacy system. Both Verizon and L3Harris have maintained that they are working to modernize air traffic control systems and replace outdated technology under multi-year contracts with the FAA.

The issue has sparked concerns among some lawmakers. Senator Ed Markey, for example, raised conflict-of-interest questions regarding Musk’s role as CEO of SpaceX and his advisory position to the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Senator Tammy Duckworth expressed alarm over recent FAA staff reductions, questioning how the cuts might impact safety and operational efficiency.

Airlines have long pushed for air traffic modernization, citing delays and capacity issues stemming from aging systems. Airlines for America emphasized that while carriers have made significant strides in upgrading their own technologies, government efforts to modernize air traffic control systems have lagged behind.

This debate over safety and modernization follows last month’s tragic mid-air collision involving an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter—the first fatal U.S. commercial passenger jet crash since 2009. The incident has further intensified calls from aviation groups and labor unions for emergency funding to upgrade air traffic control infrastructure and staffing.

As the FAA continues its testing and evaluation of Starlink technology, the industry watches closely to see how these developments will shape the future of air traffic control and overall aviation safety.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com