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OSHA probing worker death at SpaceX's Starbase site
A worker died at SpaceX’s Starbase launch site in South Texas on Friday, and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation. The San Antonio Express-News reported Monday that the unidentified victim died at around 4:17 a.m. local time on May 15, citing OSHA and local officials. The Wall Street Journal later reported that the county sheriff confirmed to the outlet that a worker died. OSHA confirmed to TechCrunch that it is investigating the apparent accident. Representatives for the nearby Brownsville police and fire departments did not respond to requests for comment. SpaceX and the newly-incorporated City of Starbase did not respond to requests for comment. The circumstances of the worker’s death are not immediately clear. OSHA told TechCrunch that it won’t release more information until its investigation is complete, which could take months. The death comes just a few days ahead of the first planned launch of SpaceX’s upgraded Starship rocket. Elon Musk’s spaceflight company is also reportedly releasing the detailed prospectus for its initial public offering this week, which is expected to be the biggest ever when that transaction takes place next month. SpaceX has long dealt with worker safety problems at its Starbase site, which handles Starship prototype launches and is an active construction zone. In 2025, TechCrunch analyzed OSHA data and determined the Texas launch site had an injury rate that far outpaced those of industry rivals, and was the most dangerous of SpaceX’s worksites. A 2023 Reuters investigation uncovered dozens of previously-unreported injuries and a worker death in 2014 at SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas test site. In January, OSHA hit SpaceX with seven “serious” safety violations for, among other things, not properly inspecting a crane before it collapsed at Starbase last June. The safety agency dealt SpaceX the maximum financial penalty on six of those seven violations, totaling $115,850. SpaceX is contesting those penalties, federal records show. The company has been hit with multiple lawsuits related to injuries sustained at Starbase in recent years. In December, an employee of one of SpaceX’s subcontractors sued after he was crushed by a large metal support dropped from a crane. The worker, Eduardo Cavazos, suffered a broken hip, knee, and tibia, and OSHA opened a “rapid response investigation,” as TechCrunch first reported in December. OSHA has since closed that rapid response investigat...
Worker dies in accident at SpaceX's Starbase complex
SpaceX has been expanding its South Texas facility in Starbase, including the giant Gigabay on the right. OSHA confirmed it’s investigating the death of a worker at the site. Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesFederal safety regulators are investigating the death of a worker at SpaceX’s Starbase complex that occurred just days before the company plans to launch its Starship rocket for the 12th time.The Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirmed Monday that it is investigating the death that happened early Friday at the private rocket plant and test facility outside Brownsville. Article continues below this adLocal officials haven’t identified the victim. They referred queries to Elon Musk’s space company. Neither it nor officials with the city of Starbase have commented about the incident that got attention on social media over the weekend. The Browsnville Fire Department was dispatched to Starbase at 4:17 a.m. Friday, according to Chief Jarrett Sheldon, but they were waived off seven minutes later after being advised SpaceX’s emergency medical services were handling the situation. San Antonio Express News LogoMake us a Preferred Source on Google to see more of us when you search.Add Preferred SourceSheriff Manuel Treviño said Monday that his department assisted and that OSHA has since took over the investigation.Article continues below this adOn Sunday, SpaceX delayed the Starship launch originally scheduled for Tuesday to Wednesday. It hasn’t given a reason for the change or said if it’s related to the accident. Cameras streaming live views of the Gigabay building that’s under construction at Starbase caught footage of the flashing lights of ambulances and first responders at the scene for several hours. “Work did not restart on the Gigabay for the entire day,” wrote Jesse Meaney, an engineering consultant who runs an “X” feed called TheSpaceEngineer and posted about the videos.Article continues below this adOSHA has cited and fined SpaceX 17 times since 2021 for workplace safety violations at Starbase and McGregor in Texas as well as its sites in Washington and California. It’s also embroiled in multiple personal injury lawsuits stemming from alleged safety violations. Article continues below this adSpaceX’s last reported workplace fatality appears to have been a 2014 accident at McGregor that left a contractor dead after he was knocked off a truck.
OSHA Investigating Incident At Starbase Complex - 710am KURV
A worker has died at SpaceX's Starbase complex in South Texas. That's according to federal safety regulators, who have launched an investigation. The Brownsville Fire Department would only say they were called to the facility on Friday but did not say why. SpaceX did not return a request for comment. They also will not comment on whether the death is the reason the Starship launch ...
Tragedy at SpaceX: Contractor Dies in Workplace Accident
A contractor working at SpaceX's Starbase complex in Texas died in a workplace accident, according to local authorities. The incident occurred on Friday, and the deceased was part of a team involved in developing the site. SpaceX's facility is crucial for its ambitious space exploration plans.
