A rocket launched by Elon Musk's SpaceX exploded during a test flight on Thursday, sending fiery debris raining down over Earth. The space firm has described the incident as "a rapid unscheduled disassembly" during ascent - which later sparked flight disruptions across American airports as fallout fell from the sky.

SpaceX's Starship rocket loses control and breaks apart minutes after launch, but company says test flights provide valuable data for future flights.