SpaceX faces a negligence lawsuit as the worker’s family seeks compensation

Elon Musk’s company is facing a negligence lawsuit filed by the wife of an employee who has been in a coma for two years after an accident at work.

Basic Facts

• The accident occurred on January 18, 2022, during tests of the Raptor V2 engine at SpaceX.
• Francisco Cabada, a SpaceX technician, suffered a serious head injury when part of an engine broke off during testing.
• His wife, Idi Cabada, filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles, California.

Claim details

• The lawsuit alleges that SpaceX was negligent in causing Kabada’s injury.
• According to former SpaceX employees, the incident reflects systemic problems at the company.
• They note that management was repeatedly warned about the risks associated with accelerated engine development and insufficient training of personnel.

The reaction of SpaceX and NASA

• SpaceX had no comment on the lawsuit or the Reuters investigation.
• NASA, which paid SpaceX $11.8 billion for the contracts, also did not comment on the situation.

Conclusion

• A Reuters investigation found more than 600 unreported workplace injuries at SpaceX, including limb injuries, amputations, electric shocks, head and eye injuries, and one fatality.
• This lawsuit calls into question the safety practices at SpaceX and their impact on employees.

The lawsuit against SpaceX highlights critical issues of safety and corporate responsibility in the space industry. This situation could have far-reaching consequences not only for SpaceX, but for the entire industry, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to worker safety and health standards.