Overview
- Firefly confirmed the first stage for Alpha Flight 7 was lost during an acceptance test at its Briggs, Texas, vertical stand, with no injuries reported.
- The destroyed booster was slated for the return-to-flight launch from Vandenberg carrying a Lockheed Martin payload, and no new launch date has been announced.
- Security camera and eyewitness videos showed an initial fireball followed by a second blast about 20 seconds later, sending a plume of black smoke over the site.
- The company is assessing damage to the stage test stand, reported no impact to other facilities, and said proper safety protocols and firefighting measures worked as intended.
- Shares of Firefly fell more than 20% after the disclosure, as the setback followed an April in‑flight anomaly investigated with FAA oversight and an August clearance to resume launches.