News
Tesla Model X driver shares unbelievable story of DEA plane crashing into car
While driving at west Houston near Sugar Land, TX, Tesla Model X owner and local businessman Oniel Kurup was involved in what could only be described as a very unusual accident — his all-electric SUV was hit by a crashing airplane from the Drug Enforcement Agency.
The unique accident transpired on Wednesday, when a DEA airplane experienced a mechanical problem during a training mission. The pilot of the aircraft attempted to land on the road, and during the daring maneuver, the plane clipped several power lines and struck several vehicles. The pilot escaped harm, but one person involved in the accident was injured nonetheless.
One of the vehicles caught in the path of the crashing airplane was Oniel’s Model X. Describing his experience in a later Facebook post, Oniel noted that he saw his life flash before his eyes for a minute, and it made him realize that all it takes is a second for a potentially deadly accident to happen. While a good part of the Model X’s front was torn off when the airplane crashed into it, Oniel noted that he and his companion were able to escape the accident without a single scratch.
- A Tesla Model X protects its passengers after getting hit by a crashing airplane. [Credit: Oniel Kurup/Facebook]
- A Tesla Model X protects its passengers after getting hit by a crashing airplane. [Credit: Oniel Kurup/Facebook]
- A Tesla Model X protects its passengers after getting hit by a crashing airplane. [Credit: Oniel Kurup/Facebook]
An airplane from the DEA crashes into a Tesla Model X. [Credit: Oniel Kurup/Facebook]
In a statement to Chron, Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls stated that the sequence of events prior to the plane crash would have been incredibly frightening to the motorists involved. While there was an injury that resulted from the incident, the sheriff stated that events could have been a lot more catastrophic.
“Imagine you’re just driving down Voss Road in Fort Bend County and all the sudden an aircraft strikes your vehicle. That would be enough to put me in cardiac arrest. We are very fortunate that this was not much more catastrophic than what it was,” Nehls said.
Oniel noted that the unusual nature of the accident caused some disbelief among those he informed after the accident. His wife, for one, thought it was a joke at first, and when he called Tesla to say that a plane crashed into his Model X, a representative from the company reportedly thought it was a prank call.
- A Tesla Model X protects its passengers after getting hit by a crashing airplane. [Credit: Oniel Kurup/Facebook]
- A Tesla Model X protects its passengers after getting hit by a crashing airplane. [Credit: Oniel Kurup/Facebook]
- A Tesla Model X protects its passengers after getting hit by a crashing airplane. [Credit: Oniel Kurup/Facebook]
- A Tesla Model X protects its passengers after getting hit by a crashing airplane. [Credit: Oniel Kurup/Facebook]
An airplane from the DEA crashes into a Tesla Model X. [Credit: Oniel Kurup/Facebook]
Oniel’s account of his Model X’s unusual accident has caught the attention of the greater Tesla community, particularly as the unfortunate event once more highlights just how safe the company’s electric cars are. Elon Musk has expressed his surprise on Twitter as well, while airing his relief that the Model X owner and his passenger were able to come out of the accident unharmed.
Wow, glad they’re ok!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 20, 2018
The Tesla Model X has earned stellar safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which awarded the vehicle with a full 5-star crash rating for all categories and subcategories. The all-electric SUV has shown some impressive feats of strength and durability in the past; such as this past March, when a parked Model X survived without a scratch after a tree fell on it during a snowstorm. The vehicle is also known for towing incredibly heavy loads, such as 250,000 lbs worth of dirt from a Boring Company tunnel.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk strikes down reports on SpaceX IPO rumors
Elon Musk has firmly denied recent media reports suggesting that SpaceX has reduced its target valuation for an upcoming initial public offering.
The denial came directly from the SpaceX and Tesla frontman on his social media platform X, where he responded with a single word, “False,” to a post from ZeroHedge that cited Bloomberg sources.
This swift rebuttal underscores Musk’s ongoing effort to manage speculation surrounding one of the most anticipated market debuts in recent history.
False
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 29, 2026
According to the disputed reports, SpaceX had lowered its IPO valuation goal to at least $1.8 trillion from previous ambitions exceeding $2 trillion.
The claims emerged amid growing anticipation for the company’s confidential S-1 filing, which positions it for a potential public listing as early as June.
Some had pointed to strong revenue growth, particularly from the Starlink satellite internet service, which contributed heavily to the firm’s 2025 figures of $18.7 billion. Yet challenges persist in other areas, including substantial investments and losses tied to ambitious projects like Starship development and artificial intelligence initiatives, which plan to make life multiplanetary eventually.
Musk’s response highlights a pattern in which he actively counters what he views as inaccurate portrayals of his companies’ trajectories.
SpaceX, already valued privately at extraordinary levels, stands as a cornerstone of Musk’s empire alongside Tesla and xAI. The entrepreneur has long emphasized the transformative potential of reusable rockets and global broadband access, factors that fuel investor enthusiasm despite operational hurdles.
By rejecting the valuation downgrade narrative, Musk signals confidence in SpaceX’s fundamentals and its readiness for public markets on terms favorable to its long-term vision. People have been waiting a very long time to invest in SpaceX, and the valuation, as well as the introductory share price, is not going to need adjusting.
They’ll have plenty of suitors.
This episode reflects broader dynamics in the technology sector, where rumors often swirl around high-profile entities. Musk’s direct engagement with media narratives serves to maintain transparency and control the narrative around his ventures.
As SpaceX prepares for greater scrutiny in public markets, the founder’s denial reinforces optimism about its prospects. Supporters argue that the company’s innovative edge positions it for enduring success, far beyond short-term valuation debates. With the denial now public, attention turns to forthcoming regulatory filings that could provide clearer insights into SpaceX’s strategy and financial health.
The coming weeks promise to reveal more about how SpaceX will transition into a publicly traded powerhouse.
Elon Musk
Tesla’s Robotaxi dreams just took a massive step toward reality
Tesla’s dreams of operating a fully autonomous ride-hailing platform just took a massive step toward reality, as two separate events have indicated the company is perhaps closer than ever to achieving self-driving as a product.
On Thursday, Tesla was granted authorization by the State of Texas to operate driverless vehicles in a commercial manner. On May 28, Senate Bill 2807, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, took effect after being passed back on September 1, 2025.
The bill establishes a statewide regulatory framework requiring authorization from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles for companies to operate automated vehicles commercially on Texas roads.
This covers driverless, or SAE Level 4+, operations for passenger transport, meaning Robotaxi, or freight.
Tesla and other companies can self-certify their vehicles and tech as long as they:
- Operate in compliance with Texas traffic laws
- Maintain proper registration, title, and insurance
- Use compliant automated driving systems
- Record onboard activity and handle system failures and glitches safely.
The new authorization, which was first reported by James Stephenson on X, allows companies to utilize their own processes to determine if their vehicles are ready to operate without drivers.
🚨BREAKING:
Tesla has been authorized by the State of Texas to operate driverless vehicles commercially under the new law that took effect today, May 28th, 2026. Tesla has officially self-certified the software running on its robotaxis as Level 4. $TSLA pic.twitter.com/KSJdsvlaW5— James Stephenson (@ICannot_Enough) May 28, 2026
It is a rule that expedites the entire approval process, keeping agencies out of a usually long, lengthy, and frustrating task that is essential to technological advancements. It essentially means Tesla can launch commercial Robotaxi operations at this point.
On the very same day, Tesla continued the momentum as CEO Elon Musk shared a video of Cybercab units autonomously driving off the property at Gigafactory Texas. This is a major step in the story of the Cybercab.
Mass production of the Cybercab started at Giga Texas in April, and it is already heading out of the factory on its own.
Cybercab driving itself out of the GigaTexas factory pic.twitter.com/EwAMVVDjYy
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 28, 2026
These two major events mark a drastic step forward in Tesla’s progress toward Cybercab and the permissions it needs to operate a self-driving ride-hailing service. Tesla is now able to operate autonomously under Texas law by self-certifying, and with the potentially imminent rollout of Cybercab, Tesla’s autonomous dreams are starting to take serious shape.
Elon Musk
The Tesla and SpaceX merger everyone is talking about is quietly building
Tesla and SpaceX may be closer to merging than Wall Street or either company is admitting.
Elon Musk has reportedly discussed merging Tesla and SpaceX with people close to him, according to CNBC, which cited sources familiar with the conversation. Tesla employees have long expected such a transaction and the topic is openly discussed internally, according to internal sources. With SpaceX is days away from kicking off its Wall Street roadshow for what could be the largest IPO in market history, this would be the first time the company will have public market currency to execute a stock-for-stock deal with Tesla.
The financial logic for a merger would make sense. A combined SpaceX and Tesla would create a conglomerate spanning rockets, satellites, electric vehicles, AI infrastructure, and energy storage valued at roughly $3.35 trillion to $3.6 trillion based on SpaceX’s IPO target range and Tesla’s current market capitalization. The two companies are already more intertwined than most people realize. SpaceX bought $697 million worth of Tesla Megapack systems for xAI data centers and $131 million worth of Cybertrucks. Tesla invested $2 billion in xAI, which subsequently merged with SpaceX. Past transactions also include Tesla selling solar equipment and parts to SpaceX, and SpaceX helping with Cybertruck materials.
Will Tesla join the fold? Predicting a triple merger with SpaceX and xAI
Musk himself signaled where this was heading in November 2025 when he posted on X, “My companies are, surprisingly in some ways, trending towards convergence.” Tesla and SpaceX announced a joint semiconductor fabrication facility in Austin called Terafab on the Gigafactory Texas campus, covering two advanced chip factories, with one serving Tesla’s AI needs for vehicles and Optimus robots, the other targeting space-based data centers under SpaceX’s infrastructure vision.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives places the probability of a merger at 80% to 90% with a target completion in the first half of 2027. The mechanics of a deal became possible the moment SpaceX filed its S-1. Legal experts said a merger likely would not spark antitrust issues but would raise concerns among shareholders in each company, with questions around which company would be the parent, how a stock swap would take place, and who determines the appropriate price. Musk holds about 20% of Tesla’s equity but controls 85.1% of SpaceX’s voting power through a super-voting share class, meaning he would largely be negotiating the terms with himself.
Not everyone is convinced the timing is imminent. Traders on Kalshi place only 33% odds that a merger will happen before May 2027. The more immediate concern for Tesla shareholders is whether the SpaceX IPO pulls capital and Musk’s attention away from Tesla before any merger consolidates the upside for both.
What is clear is that the structural groundwork is already being laid. The Terafab announcement, the xAI merger, the shared supply chain, the cross-company balance sheet transactions, and now the IPO all point in the same direction. Whether the merger follows in 2027 or later, the two companies are already operating more like divisions of a single entity than independent competitors.







