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On Thursday, Elon Musk criticized Verizon’s attempts to enhance the FAA’s air traffic control infrastructure, labeling the initiative as unsuccessful. Musk emphasized the necessity for Starlink, the satellite division of his SpaceX enterprise, to assume responsibility for the operation.

“The Verizon communication system for air traffic control is deteriorating rapidly,” he stated in a post on his platform X. “The FAA estimates that in mere months, we could face a catastrophic failure, placing the safety of air travelers at significant risk.”

Musk further remarked, “The situation is extraordinarily urgent.”

It’s unclear which risk assessment Musk was referencing in his comments.

Verizon holds a substantial contract valued at $2.4 billion to upgrade the FAA’s communication framework, dubbed the FAA Enterprise Network Services (FENS) program. In response to Musk’s claims, the FAA stated, “No decisions have been made regarding the FENS initiative.”

Earlier this week, the FAA confirmed that it is evaluating three Starlink terminals. Musk mentioned that these terminals were provided to the FAA at no cost to the agency or taxpayers, asserting that their delivery was an “emergency measure to restore air traffic control connectivity.”

Verizon did not immediately respond to requests for a statement. Earlier this week, it released a statement regarding the FAA’s testing of the Starlink system, asserting, “Verizon is providing the FAA with the nation’s most dependable network at a critical time for necessary infrastructure and technology improvements. Our collaboration marks the beginning of a 15-year commitment to aid the agency in modernizing its systems.”

There is widespread consensus that the FAA’s various communication and computing systems require urgent updates. A report released in December by the Government Accountability Office was titled “Urgent FAA Actions Needed to Modernize Aging Systems.”

The $2.4 billion contract with Verizon was awarded by the FAA two years ago, aiming to “initiate a new phase in national air system and administrative communication.” The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, reported on Thursday that the agency might be close to terminating the contract and reallocating it to SpaceX.

Musk seemed to confirm the Post’s report in his comments on X, which referenced an earlier post claiming, “The FAA is about to cancel Verizon’s expensive $2.4 billion contract and award it to Starlink — a change promising a more efficient, safer, and reliable air traffic control service.”

Such a decision may encounter legal hurdles, as repealing federal contracts involves a complicated process that could extend over a year, as reported by the publication. This shift would represent a significant financial gain for SpaceX during a time when Musk is advocating for substantial cuts in federal spending, which include staffing and budget reductions at the FAA.

The contract change could also raise new concerns over potential conflicts of interest, given Musk’s role in suggesting spending cuts for agencies affiliated with his businesses or those overseeing their regulations. The FAA is one of the entities that regulates SpaceX’s operations.

Recently, air traffic safety has gained heightened public attention due to a series of accidents involving commercial flights, including incidents such as the tragic collision of a military helicopter and a regional jet during landing near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, a disaster that claimed the lives of all 10 individuals aboard a small jet in Alaska, a Delta regional flight that overturned and ignited upon landing in Toronto, and a near miss at Midway Airport involving a Southwest Airlines jet that had to abort its landing due to a private jet crossing its path improperly.

The causes of these incidents are currently under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, and there is no indication that issues with Verizon’s systems contributed to these accidents. Following the tragic incident in Washington, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy mentioned that he had discussed with Musk about efforts to “revamp our airspace” and implement changes promptly.

CNN’s Pete Muntean and Alexandra Skores contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional insights and context.