SpaceX dispatches employee shuttle to Brownsville week of Starship damage lawsuit

SpaceX flew its Boeing 737-800, tail number N154TS, from Los Angeles International Airport to Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport on May 6, 2026. The high-capacity employee shuttle departed at 3:02 p.m. Pacific time and touched down after nearly three hours, reaching a maximum altitude of 37,000 feet.

The timing coincides with a fresh federal lawsuit filed by more than 50 Brownsville-area residents against SpaceX, alleging that sonic booms from Starship test launches at nearby Starbase have cracked homes and rattled nerves. Per a Reuters report on May 1, the plaintiffs claim the company ignored warnings and pressed ahead with flights despite known risks to surrounding properties.

Such trips are routine for N154TS, which shuttles staff between SpaceX's Hawthorne headquarters and Starbase three times weekly, supporting the relentless push on Starship development amid growing local friction.