SpaceX has put out an initial statement addressing the unusual incident involving the 'Starship' booster B18, which transpired in the wee hours of Friday morning, local time. The mishap unfolded during a pressure test of the gas system at the Macy Factory, situated at the Starbase in Texas. At the time of the test, the booster lacked both propellant and installed engines. Fortunately, all personnel were stationed at a safe distance, and there were no reports of any injuries.

At approximately 4:04 a.m. Central Time, the lower portion of B18 displayed wrinkling around the liquid oxygen tank section, with significant damage sustained to the lower structure. Industry specialists surmise that the booster might be entirely compromised and beyond the point of repair. Notably, B18 had just been moved out of the factory a day prior to the incident and was among the initial batch of aircraft in the 'Starship' V3 iteration. The V3 series has seen numerous structural improvements and upgrades, and Elon Musk had placed considerable expectations on its performance.