Overview
- A 25‑year‑old contractor, Jose Luis Bautista of Donna, Texas, died after an apparent eight‑foot fall from scaffolding at Starbase on Friday morning, and a preliminary autopsy cited blunt‑force trauma as the cause of death.
- OSHA confirmed it has opened a formal investigation that could take months, while local authorities say the incident is not criminal and SpaceX has not publicly commented.
- Live camera footage and on‑site reports show work stopped at the Gigabay construction area after the accident and SpaceX pushed back a planned Starship V3 test flight with no public link made between the delay and the death.
- Reporting notes that Starbase has a history of safety problems, including multiple OSHA citations, fines and personal‑injury lawsuits dating back to 2021 and investigations documenting hundreds of workplace injuries across SpaceX sites.
- Family members and contractors at the site face immediate loss and uncertainty, and the OSHA review could affect future operations, company liability and public confidence in Starbase safety practices.